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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3061014" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Seventy-nine, “The Watcher”, Sunday June 4th , 1882, 10:45 A.M. The Englishman Kevin Tomlinson states, “We are known as The Watchers Council.  We fight the supernatural monsters, vampires in particular, primarily by locating individuals with the talents required to fight such beings and win and then provide them with the necessary training and weapons to accomplish this task. Becoming Judge Isby's clerk solved a great many problems and also allowed me to help remove the Judge from Turner's influence."Without thinking Kate reached up and rubbed her neck where Greeley had bitten her. "You think Mortimer might still be attached to his wife and come after Job?   The Judge was under a Vampire's influence? I assume Mortimer's since Colin has been gone for a while now."  Tomlinson says, "Actually, that influence ceased while the four of you were in Thomaswell. I didn't know what brought about the change at the time, but apparently your actions were the cause. The Judge and I returned to Wilcox where I was thankfully able to prepare and provide elixirs to Mrs. Turner, Judge Isby and around two-dozen other citizens of Wilcox who had been under their influence. Those people are now fine, actually better than fine, as one side effect of this special elixir is that they are all now in superb health and each is physically a decade younger than their chronological age."Harker states, "We do not know what he plans to do next. Bernice Turner thought him dead and buried but she has seen him recently. That is why she has made Job stay away. We plan to head off to Wilcox tomorrow but wanted to first apprise you of the situation so that you can be on alert." Tomlinson says, "We also have need of two of Nolan Edward's personal possessions which we believe are now in your possession. His holy symbol and a pair of leather gloves."   Kate replies, "I'm not sure who was holding on to those, I don't believe I have them.  You said your council seeks out people to help in its mission, giving them training and weapons? What methods does your group approve of?"Tomlinson says, "We actually seek to train a specific person known as a Slayer. To each generation is born a young female bestowed with mystical powers which gives her superhuman senses, strength, speed, endurance, agility, healing and stamina in the fight against forces of darkness.  For the last fifteen years the Slayer has been an Italian woman by the name of Angela Martignetti.  Her watcher, Jason Cromwell, feels that her time is soon to come to an end. The Watcher's Council was provided a vision that foretold that the next slayer would come from this community. I was sent here to find this potential and prepare her. I initially thought that Ruby West was that individual but was mistaken."Jake chokes a bit.  He looks to Minerva who appears to be a bit stunned. "The priestess has the holy symbol. I believe Manuel Gonzalez has the gloves."   Chester interjects, "If not her, then who? You said there's one woman per generation. Shouldn't you be able to figure out who that one is easily?"   Kate adds, "But you still believe this woman to be here? How would you discover who she is?"He replies, "The only constant is that it is typically a young woman between the ages of fourteen and nineteen. She may not be here in Promise City yet, but she will be here at the time when the present Slayer perishes. That is when the new slayer will be born, when the young woman will be granted the supernatural powers. It could happen tomorrow or it could happen many years from now. I hopefully will be able to identify her in advance, but if not, will find her then and start her training at that point in time."Jake states, "I get the impression that women in this career path do not pass quietly in their sleep." Tomlinson and Harker both give Jake a stern look. He simply shrugs and says, "Must be hard recruiting new applicants."  Tomlinson says, "It is their destiny. It is my job to train this Slayer so that she can have a longer life expectancy and carry on the task of ridding the world of undead." Chester says, "You expect these Slayers to die young? Why would anyone volunteer for that kind of duty? And why only one, if there's such a need?"   Tomlinson replies, "The Slayer is unique. Only one girl receives these supernatural gifts."    Minerva turns a bit pale when she is told of more vampires. May the gods protect us.  She sits quietly listening to the details as her mind calculates who this new Slayer could possibly be. "I wonder how old Clarisse is? Hmmm who else falls into that age range?"Kate says, "I'm grateful that I'm too old and Ginnie is too young. Our one encounter with these monsters was enough for me.”  Harker says, "Yes, quite. But for now we need not worry about who the potential slayer might be. Our task at hand is to find and eradicate Mortimer Turner."   Kate comments, “You've been very cautious today, making sure this conversation is private. I know Vampires can get into your mind but do they have some kind of power where they could have eavesdropped on us today? It's daylight outside. They should be holed up hiding from the sun."Tomlinson says, "The Watcher's Council is a secret order so it is necessary to maintain discretion. Freelance monster hunters like Nolan Edwards draw too much attention to themselves which is what eventually cost him his life. Mine and Jonathan's way works much better. Jonathan's cousin Boston Harker lives here in town so as far as anybody is concerned he is just visiting a relative of his."Kate replies, "Well, we've tried to be discreet but since you found out what we did apparently we weren't that successful."   Harker says, "Sheriff Weeks disclosed what he knew to me and Deputy Martin had used his real name. Kevin was able to piece the rest together."   Kate shook her head and smiled. "And we just confirmed a great deal for you just by being here."Jake asks rather bluntly, "What does Mortimer Turner look like?  Where was he last seen, and does he have any habits about where he hides his coffin?"  Tomlinson says, "I do not know the location of the casket. I believed him dead, I stabbed a stake into his chest myself over a year ago but the body was never recovered, it fell over a cliff as I stabbed him. I can only presume that I must have missed the heart and he survived.""Yes, Mr. Tomlinson, I am familiar with how difficult it is to drive a stake into the heart of one of those creatures," Jake says with some exasperation, "and I have little doubt you would finish the job if you KNEW where he hid his casket. That is not what I asked you." Jake runs a hand through his hair. "So... Where were you when he went over the cliff? What does he look like so I can be wary? Did he have any habits that might be useful to know?"Tomlinson says, "We fought at an abandoned silver mine five miles from Wilcox. I thought that his casket was inside but it was not. I also checked his house in town and it was not there either.”  Chester interjects, "Where exactly? If we're going to do this, we better do it right.”  Jake nearly chokes.   Chester says, “How much help are you going to give us? Or are you concentrating on finding this 'Slayer'? I've got a few killings on my plate already."   Jake says, "I think you have plenty to do already, Deputy."He continues, “Mortimer Turner stands approximately five-foot-nine with short slicked black hair and deep blue eyes. He has sideburns that are beginning to gray around the ears and a short goatee but no mustache. His most unusual and distinctive feature are two amputated fingers on his left hand, the pinkie and ring fingers, cut off just above the first finger joint. He lost those in a boyhood accident in a sawmill. He usually wears gloves to hide them."  Jake listened intently to the description Tomlinson gives of Mortimer Turner. Kate states, "He sounds a lot like Colin, only dark instead of blonde. I don't think we'll have any trouble recognizing him. Thank you for the warning, although I hope it will prove to be unnecessary."   Jonathan Harker says, "Yes, quite. The group of you did well in Thomasville. The people of Wilcox are free of their influence due to your work. Warning you of this new predicament is the least we can do."  Jake manages not to roll his eyes when Harker compliments them on 'saving' Thomaswell.  Tomlinson looks to Jake and says, "Mr. Cook, your Miss. West visited the Judge on Wednesday morning and said that she would be gone for a short while. Given the elder Turner's interest in her that is probably a good thing. You would be wise to keep her away from here until we know that it is safe again."    Jake replies, "Wise? Any control that I exercised over Miss West was tenuous at best." He looks away briefly before looking back and at the two of them. "Will you speak with Job Kane? Or are you leaving that to me?"Tomlinson says, "The two of us are heading up to Wilcox on tomorrow morning's stagecoach to see what we can find. We wanted you to know what has transpired. As for Mr. Kane, I can speak to him this evening and find out what his wishes are in this matter."   Jake stands. "If that is all gentlemen? I am grateful for the warning."The men indicate they have nothing further. They do both stay to partake of the brunch that has been prepared.  Jake tells them to enjoy their breakfast, "She makes some of the best food in town."  He leaves the others behind muttering, "Mierde," several times as he makes his way down the stairs. Not sure what else to do with himself, he takes a seat on the porch of the saloon and ponders lazily.Kate stayed a while for politeness sake although she didn't eat much. Her breakfast at the El Parador had been filling and there wasn't room for much more. Normally she would have been as full of questions as Ginnie, but she had asked Nolan Edwards most of those questions and this morning had brought back the painful memory of the poor mans death.  After a while she said her polite good-byes and left. As she passed out the door she saw Jake sitting on the porch, lost in thought. She sat quietly down next to him and waited.  Jake looks up and smiles. "How can you take anyone serious with a name like Mortimer."  She replies, "Mortimer the Terrible doesn't have much of a ring to it, does it? Mortimer the Red, perhaps? Mortimer the Bloody?" She chuckled. "No, I can't do it. I hear the name and I think of an ancient man without teeth. It seems Job has interesting taste in women.""How was he to know that the widow woman's husband was not exactly dead in the ordinary sense. Interesting part is that one or more of them looked after her." Jake shrugs. "Nothing to do but wait it out. I will not go seeking that kind of trouble."   Kate replies, "Neither will I. I've made several promises to be extra careful for a while. As for Job, we widows are trouble. You ought to know that," Kate laughed. "And we're occasionally good listeners too, if you should ever need one." She stood up and straightened her dress. "There's a wedding at sundown and the whole town's invited. I hope we'll see you there."     "I have heard it said that marriage is the only game of chance where both people can lose." Jake grins but makes no move to get up. "Likely I will be there. No harm in wishing them luck, even if the game is rigged."  She replies, "Of course it's rigged. Whether that's good or bad depends entirely upon who did the rigging." She bent down and kissed his cheek, not caring if it embarrassed him. "I've got ranch work to do, I'll see you later."  "Pleasant day to you," he replies. After she turns away he touches a finger to the cheek she kissed. It reminded him of someone that he has not seen in several years. Jake let his mind wander again.Jake sits for a good half hour until broken from his concentration by the annoying laugh of an overly pleasant halfling by the name of Chumbley who is out and about selling today's edition of the Promise City Herald.  Jake flips him a coin on his way by and takes one of his papers. All this turmoil in town was at least good for his business, he thought. Jake continues to slouch on the pouch with his feet up for a while, watching people strolling along before he finally opens the paper. He reads at a leisurely pace, easily distracted by the goings on around him. The lead story carries the banner “Finnegan Falls”. It details the previous night’s fight at the Palace Saloon, where the house pugilist Finnegan suffered his first defeat after twelve consecutive weeks of victories. The winner of the bout was Boston Harker, the barrel-chested foreman of the Breakheart Stamping Mill and Smelter. Harker had challenged Finnegan the previous week and that fight lasted for sixteen rounds until Harker eventually fell. The rematch the previous evening was shorter, with Finnegan falling to a knockout punch in the ninth round. Harker was awarded a $ 100 prize for his victory. Two other stories begin below the fold on page one and both continue onto page two. The first of these has the headline “Rustlers Return”. It states that the first significant incidence of cattle rustling since the death of Johnny Ringo took place the previous evening when fourteen cattle and eight horses were rustled from the Phillips Ranch. Those animals represented approximately one-third of their livestock and half of their mounts. The crime took place when Ned Phillips and his hands were busy putting out a fire in the hay barn, which had apparently been set by the rustlers as a distraction. Since Phillips had opted to not join the Incorporated town the crime is being investigated by Deputy Sheriffs Colin Hunter and Frank Leslie. The other story has the banner “Liberty Party Formed” and concerns the Liberty Party which was established during the previous night’s rally at the Palace Saloon following the fight. Signatures were obtained from registered voters for a full slate of candidates and the party became officially registered with Judge Isby that morning. The Political Party Headquarters is the Palace Saloon and all non-Liberty party candidates for office are barred from entering there until after the election. The slate of candidates consists of Hamilton Fisk as candidate for Mayor, Colin Hunter as candidate for Marshall, and as candidates for the Councilman positions Evan Adair, Tector Driscoll, Porter Norris, Ike Sherman and Nicholas Thayer. The party vows to uphold ‘Liberty’ for all citizens of Promise City rather than imposing unnecessary restrictions upon the town’s citizens. There is a short story on page six about Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin and the relocation of his ballooning operation from Chihuahua, Mexico to Promise City. He states that he has sixty employees, mostly humans originally from Germany but also a handful of Mexican wood elves. The manufacturing operation will be established in the valley five miles northeast of town in the valley between Fisk and Bowie Mountains. He states that the operation will officially join the township and that all of his workers will have arrived in time to register to vote. The remainder of the newspaper consists of advertisements, with the back page being a full-page advertisement for both the Palace Saloon and the Liberty Party. On the interior pages are three separate quarter-page advertisements for political office, namely Burton Lumley for Councilman, Elihu Upton for Councilman and Vera Blake for Councilwoman.  The last page reminds Jake that the Lucky Lady is overdue for some advertising. He passes the balance of Sunday morning on the porch doing nothing at all. Once the meal at the Lucky Lady is finished, Chester gets up from the table. "I got work to do, so have yourselves a good day." Chester leaves and heads for the office. Eduardo is there and waves Chester over. "Afternoon Chet. Did you see the paper? The Phillips Ranch got hit by rustlers."  "No, didn't know it came out today. Let me see."   He reads the story and comments, "Hmph. Wonder if they'll change their minds about joining town. It'd be funny if Leslie was on of the ones who took the cattle. Eduardo, do you if there's going to be a ranch to join the town after incorporation?" He reads the story about the Liberty Party and comments to Eddie, "That note you got, think it was talking about Fisk? He's first on my list of suspects."   Eduardo replies, "Mitch says that seems like the obvious answer, maybe too obvious. I'm trying to determine who might have written the note. First of all it was written in Spanish. Then I had Mother Jiminez check with the animals in the area to try to determine who might have slipped it under my door. The description she got wasn't that specific but it was definitely a dark-haired male wood elf of slightly-below-average height."Chester says, "A wood elf? I'm a bit surprised the locals would have anything to do with Fisk. Well, it does narrow down who left the note. There can't be many wood elves working with Fisk. I mean, I agree that Fisk is the simple choice, but I'm a simple man. We'll have to thank Mother Jiminez. Hmm, I didn't know she could talk to animals. That's a mighty handy skill to have."Eduardo says, "As far as I know Fisk never associates with any non-humans. I'll continue to follow this lead, I'm not convinced that the writer of the note is himself guilty of anything other than having knowledge that can get him killed if we're not careful."  Chester says, "But didn't the note say that he was one of the killers? Why would he write that if it wasn't true? Do you believe him when he says, that he could be killed over this?"Eduardo reaches into his pocket and removes the note, reading it aloud: "Marshall Berg should stop looking into Buckley's death. Buckley was the man who killed Marshall Hollister last December. The man who hired Buckley to do that killing is now planning to run for office and Buckley made the mistake of trying to blackmail him. I cannot come forward or I will be killed as well, as Buckley knew of my involvement but the other killer does not. Further investigations on your part will only result in more dead lawmen." "Nope, the writer doesn't actually confess to any killings here, just his 'involvement' whatever that means. So he may be an accessory after the fact, which is still a crime, but not to the same degree."   Chester says, "Yeah. I guess I got stuck on that 'other killer' thing. If a wood elf didn't want to be found by humans, how easy would that be? He may already have flown the coop."Eduardo says, "It depends upon who he actually is. Thankfully there is the wedding today, which will attract every wood elf in the area. Anybody missing will be conspicuous by their absence. Alternately, the reception should also give me an opportunity to approach and talk to anyone who I may suspect of being the writer."   Chet replies, "Good plan. Do you need me there, or would I stick out too much? I'm sure you'll have a good time in between talking to people."Eduardo replies to Chet, "I'll have enough fun at the wedding, there's no reason that I can't mix work and play. And since Rufus Davis invited the whole town, except for that Shackelton fellow, there's no reason for you to not attend as well. Just don't let it give that girl of yours any ideas."   Chester starts coughing. "Don't scare me like that. I've only known her a few months. I hadn't given much thought to marriage."   Eduardo grins. "I can bet you that she has. But don't let that stop you from taking her to the wedding." He claps Chester on the back. "Go get changed and I'll see you there."  Chester raises his hands in mock surrender. "OK. OK. Message received. See you there." Kate's mind was busy as she got changed and back over to the El Parador to fetch Meribel. The thought that those monsters could still be a danger wasn't something she wanted to think about. She kept picturing the girls in her school, the older ones who would be of age to be this "Slayer." It seemed cruel to wrench a girl from the life she'd always known and lay such a responsibility on her. Otherwise she worried about Jake. He seemed alright, but he was sitting inside himself at the moment. Perhaps he had talked to someone, perhaps not. All she could do now was to be available.  She sighed and peeked inside the El Parador to see if Conrad was there.  Conrad Booth is indeed inside the El Parador having his first meal of the day even though it is about an hour earlier than usual. Kate also notes that the wood elves are all back from their church service.  It had been strange earlier sitting in the El Parador when it was so quiet. Now everything seemed right inside. Kate went in and slid into a chair at Conrad's table. "You're up early. I just wanted to know if you were going to the wedding this afternoon."   He replies, "Yes indeed, as if Dorita would let any of us miss it! And I agree, it is early, but Miss Marcus and I are meeting our actors at the Gay Lady at noon so I thought I would get a bite of breakfast first.”Kate says, "I wish I could go with you; I'd like to see the play get started. But I have my own work to do today. There are more horses that need training that I have time for. But I'll be back in plenty of time for the wedding.  Would you care to..." Kate hesitated. It seemed a silly question after her admission to him in Boston, but everything felt a little uncertain today. "I should be here by five-thirty if you'd like to walk over together."  Conrad smiles and says, "I would be honored to accompany you fine lady."Kate looked at the baggy pants and man's shirt she was wearing at the moment and laughed. "Is there a lady under here? I hope I can find her by this evening." She resisted the urge to lean over and kiss him. "Thank you. I think you're just what I need today."   He smiles and replies, "And I hope that at some point you'll realize that I'm what you need every day. But until that time comes I will remain content with joining you at weddings in the role of spectators rather than participants.""When I'm ready to be a wife again you'll be the first to know my dear," she said and squeezed his hand. "I should get going. I'll see you in a few hours and you can tell me all about getting the play started."  Conrad replies, "That I will, I've been enjoying it thus far and we've barely started." Kate gets up to leave and nearly collides with Chumbley as he hurries into the El Parador carrying a stack of newspapers.  "I'll take one of those, Mr. Chumbley," Kate said and fished a nickel out of her pocket. "I hope you had a nice breakfast this morning despite the quiet Cantina." He sells her the paper and says, "Why yes I did. That Sydney Sue is simply amazing. I am so glad she returned to town." He hurries into the Cantina to sell more of his paper to the other patrons. Kate reflects that this election period has been very profitable for Hezekiah B. Chumbley and the Promise City Mirror, with enough news and advertisements for daily editions. The news of the Douglas Gang’s record robbery in Colorado had even promoted a second edition on the day before! And enough news has now been gathered since for an eight-page Sunday edition. She glances at the paper. Kate had been reading as she went back into the stable. After she read about the livestock stolen from Ned Phillips place she turned right back around and headed upstairs and into her teacher's rooms.  "Grandpere? Are you here?" she called."In the workshop," his voice bellows out. She enters the room to see that he is in the process of making some sort of concoction, as different colored liquids are boiling within three beakers mounted above the brazier and he is currently crushing something up into fine powder.  She says, "I'm sorry, I don't want to disrupt. I just read something disturbing in the paper and wanted a bit of advice. I can come back later."He replies, "No, have a seat and tell me what is on your mind. I can crush up goats' hooves just as easily with an audience than by myself."  Kate settled herself on a tall stool. It would be nice to talk plainly where she was certain no one could hear.  "Livestock was stolen from Ned Phillips ranch last night. Men from Thayer's ranch have been watching the place and they've also been watching our ranch. I'm afraid we might be next. We don't have any hands, no one but the three of us and I'm not there enough to count as security. The Apache keep an eye out but they can't break the treaty and come down to thwart rustlers. I know Thayer's men have been watching because Wyatt Earp told me. He was looking into why but I think this clinches it. Even if he should catch them he's only one man."  Gonzales replies, "Wyatt Earp is more than just one man and we both know it....he's an insane lunatic but one with magical protections on his physical body. He might be of help. And don't discount the Apache, several of them regularly leave the mountains for employment on the Morand Family's Rocking-H Ranch. It would cost you some money or trade goods but there is nothing to prevent you from hiring some of them as well."She says, "I don't have a problem with hiring on some hands, I was thinking about it yesterday truth be told. There's too much work now to leave it all on Sonoma and Flint, and it's unfair to do so. And I could trust the Apache, but that will take a few days and I'm not sure how to protect us until then. I can spend the next few nights at the ranch, but one more person sleeping won't make much difference."   Kate took a deep breath. "I can't believe I didn't send Earp away. He said that I would never see him again if that's what I wanted, but I needed him to help keep us safe. He said Virgil didn't tell him what Morgan had done until after he was killed. I think I believe it."Gonzales replies "Wyatt Earp is a lot of things but I've never known of him to lie. I'm sure he may have suspected what occurred, he's too smart not to have, but if he says he didn't actually know he is probably being truthful. As for the ranch, I cannot miss this wedding today but am willing to head out to the ranch afterwards and stay for as long as necessary. It also may not take that long for you to hire some Apache ranch hands. You already have a relationship with Geronimo and your friend Flint's woman Naki-Yai is of the tribe."  While he is talking he finishes making the powdered hooves and then pours the contents through a funnel into a beaker with boiling green-yellow liquid.   She replies, "I think I'll start with Naki-Yai. Getting to see Geronimo isn't that easy," she smiled, "and not every Apache knows who I am. I'm actually relieved the surveillance seems to have just been about cattle rustling. I was afraid of something more sinister.   I wouldn't want you to miss the wedding, I'm certainly not going to. What are you working on there that needs goat's hooves?"He replies, "A special elixir designed to save the lives of all of my family and friends." He catches the worried look on Kate's face and laughs, "Oh, it's nothing sinister my little bird. One element of a Wood Elvan wedding is that the bride has to bake a special treat for the reception, a type of pastry with sweet meat and cheese. Miss. Ramirez's cooking makes yours look like that of a master chef by comparison. This elixir should negate any indigestion that would result from her conconction."Kate laughed aloud. "At least someone's a worse cook than I am," she said and shook her head. "I heard some other interesting things today, but I can tell you about them later. If I don't get out to the ranch soon I won't have enough time to get anything done before I head back."  She hopped down and kissed the elf's cheek. "I will see you later."</blockquote>

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