Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3065058" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Eighty, “Saloon Details”, Sunday June 4th , 1882, 12:30 P.M. Kate finally made her way to the ranch, enjoying the pleasant ride in the fresh air before the heat of the day set in. No one else seemed to notice how warm it was getting, but considering she was used to it still being chilly at the beginning of June she might not be the best person to judge by. Everything was quiet out at the ranch and Kate got down to the work of training. It wasn't good to be doing it in this piecemeal way; she would have to set a rigid schedule and make sure she followed it. She spent several hours working with the wild horses the Apache had brought before she stopped by Sonoma and Flint to share what she had learned about the rustlers and suggest hiring hands. At around 2:00 in the afternoon Darla Peacock stops by Jake's Porch and asks if they can continue their previous conversation.  "Sit yourself down, Miss Peacock. Might I suggest that you can call me Jake if you think that I could call you Darla?" Jake smiles pleasantly. "Please, begin where ever you feel comfortable."She says, "Alright Jake, I won't beat around the bush here. I've asked around and I hear that you and Mr. Kane each only work four nights a week. That appeals to me, we've had Peacock's Saloon open every night for the last eighteen months and I've forgotten what a night off looks like. So my first question for you is how many nights were you planning to have Faro? I'd be willing to do a fifth night but I'd really like some time off. And if you decide you want another Faro dealer for my nights away I would like to be the one to make that hiring decision, as it is my table that will suffer if a bad choice is made. I know that during previous summers a Mr. Teddy Whipple dealt Faro at the Lone Star. I assume that he won't be returning, which would be my preference, as I've heard missed reviews of his...abilities. And my other concern is my fiance Michael George. I would be interested in his schedule mirroring mine. He is a good bartender and I would expect his starting pay to be at least eighty-percent of what you presently pay your bartenders, plus I assume he would get to keep whatever tips are left at the bar.  Lastly I want to confirm that you will not require us to reside at the Lucky Lady. Michael and I own a house a block-and-a-half north of here which we would plan to continue living at."He says, "I would like Faro six or seven nights a week. I figured I would start with one dealer, and if she was good enough, and I think she is, I would have her hire the second dealer. Most nights we would only need a single dealer, but if business was good enough I would expect my main Faro dealer to decide when we needed two dealers on the busiest nights." Jake maintains his pleasant smile, "You should be on the best nights, we both make out that way. Work all seven if you want, but I am satisfied with you on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at a minimum. The Whipples no longer have any stake in the saloon so you need not fear any of them coming back. Since you would be hiring any other Faro dealers, I expect you to maintain the quality. I do not care where you and Michael call home, no need to sleep at the Lady. Just be here on your shifts is all I ask. We need a good bartender and I can agree to your terms regarding Micheal for the most part. Just understand on occasion we may need some help other than just your nights. The Lady is a bit of a family and we all pitch in when needed to keep her going, our customers coming back and each other safe. He can start as you suggested and we will see how it goes from there." "We run an honest place, and as one of the owners we always have the right to question the decisions of our employees. In practice, it almost never happens. We have a fine group. So..." Jake extends his hand to Darla, ... can I welcome you aboard?"  Darla replies, "Yes you can....but can we hold off on announcing it and having us start for a couple of days? I would like to be able to get the best possible price for the current saloon and if people already know we've already decided to move on that won't happen."He asks, "How much do you think you can get for it?"  Darla replies, "It depends on the seller. With the Gay Lady on one side and Cook's General Store on the other I could probably get the most from one of them. I might even be able to get them into a bidding war. And even if they aren't interested, with the recent mining discoveries combined with the Tombstone Fire there are probably at least a dozen other folks who would be interested in starting up a saloon at that location. I figure the lot alone is worth more than the building, I should be able to clear an easy three thousand, possibly as much as four.""Hmmm, well that is too rich for me. I was thinking I might take it off your hands but that is many times more than I guessed it was worth. It is a fine location, good luck on it. We talked before about that, I would rather see Cook get it so we do not help the competition." Ginnie swings by sees Jake talking to Darla. she stands where he can see her and she lets him know that she's there close enough to hear what is going on. she waits a couple of minutes and then pops up to the two of them.   “I was wondering if I could talk to you Jake about some of the questions you had for me. I also wanted to know if it would be possible for the new faro dealer to possibly teach me the game.”   Jake says, "Well good afternoon to you too young lady. I assume you know Miss Peacock? I personally have no qualms about her teaching you the game if she is willing. I am not sure that Promise City is ready for a youngster dealing Faro.…”Darla looks at Ginnie and says, "You're the daughter of the school teacher and piano player aren't you? I believe that I saw you waiting tables last night at the Lady."  Ginnie says, “I'm not looking to deal but I need to understand what is going on if I want to make sure I know what is going on. I've been thinking about your questions. Oh and by the way I have another slip for you to sign I've arranged with Chumbley for advertising space in each addition of the paper until the week after the election is held he gave me a good deal.”  She looks at Ms. Peacock gets a nod from Jake and keeps going. “I've taken care of the restock with Harry if he asks you sent me with the list. I've also restocked the pantry for Maria we should be set for the next week or so. the books look to be in line and we have pulled in about twelve-percent more than previously but the saloon has been slightly busier than usual. I'm not planning on going anywhere soon but I don't see this as a full-time job for me I've already got most of the people dealing with us believing that Job is managing the onsite and using me as a messenger.  You are doing the books and ordering half and using me as a messenger, so that front suits me fine. I also don't want the customers believing that I'm doing anything more than just bussing tables or they will start watching their words in front of me. I've got Nakomo and Melvin to pick up any slack that way so I think we're in good shape.”   Darla takes in everything that Ginnie has just told to Jake. She asks him, "Do I even want to know?"   "Ginnie is an over achiever," Jake says deadpan. "Ginnie girl, Darla Peacock is going to be joining us as our Faro dealer full time soon. We will want to put that in the paper when she does. In the meantime, do not make it public until she has her affairs in order."  He turns back, "Darla, the rumor is probably already out about you and the Lucky Lady since you dealt here that night. Just let us know when we can run the advertisement." Back to the child, "Yes, Ginnie, bring the papers around and I will sign them. We can finish our business when Darla and I are done."Ginnie states, “Actually it was thought by the people that were playing that you were looking to expand and had a short term test run with Ms. Peacock to see if there was any interest and if it would take up more space than bring in profits. She is known as one of the best and most honest dealers around so it made sense that you would use her to see if the idea would work or if you were going to just add another poker table instead. The people talking also thought that she may have approached you to get a little more of a public face to her game as the saloon is more visually accessible than the back room limiting her clientele to word of mouth. With the influx of people from the Tombstone fire it made sense.  I'll get the paperwork. I think that Maria may have made some cookies for the wedding I'm going to see if any um... Broke.”  "No wasted cookies at the Lucky Lady," Jake says.  Ginnie departs with her usual spurt of energy. To Darla he replies, "Talk to me if you end up having any trouble selling the saloon. We could explore alternatives. Otherwise, I am pleased to have you on board. Anything else?"  Darla replies, "No, I think that about covers it. I think I will enjoy working with you and Mr. Kane. I'm not so sure about Mr. Lucky, something about him rubs me the wrong way, but as long as my Michael is around I doubt he will make any trouble for me." "If Tony Lucky causes you any trouble, just let me know." Jake and Darla say goodbye after which Jake goes to find Ginnie. Ginnie slips into the kitchen in search of "broken" cookies.   None of the ones in the tin current are broken but she senses that some have the “potential to break” so removes them.   She finds a quiet table in the back and lays out the projection sheets for Jake to look over when he comes in. She has set up both long and short term schedules for the hotel and saloon. put together projective budgets that coordinate with growth and loss potential.  Purchase lists have been set up for staples and specialty items along with the costs of furnishing the upstairs rooms and the level of rent that she believes they can expect from them. Long term and upkeep schedules along with potential individuals and pay rates that they would accept for the jobs are listed in a separate file.Jake finds her in the kitchen with an array of papers. In her usual fashion she races through what they all are and how he should use them. "Ginnie, you are very, um, thorough." He strokes his beard a few times, "Do you ever have any fun girl?"   She replies,  "This is fine work, now I need someone to follow this. We still need a manager, somebody that can be here much of the time. Someone who can keep the customers happy and keep all this staff in line. Keep your ears open for the right body. Perhaps one of those new families in town, that Southerner friend of Mrs. Kale or that Irish woman." Jake shrugs his familiar shrug. "Anyway, we need to look about. Then we will need to present your plan in the proper way so they feel good about using it, make it part of their ideas. We have to manage the people part you know. So.... where in all this," Jake waves a hand over the papers and gives her a little grin, "does it say what we pay Ginnie for her, ahem, messenger services and still turn a profit? You can free lance if you like, working as much or as little as makes sense for you." He then teases, "Besides, if you were full time how would we make any money with you eating all the profit in cookies?" "Something else I want to do is partner with other businesses for services our guests will want. We recommend those business or even have them deliver services here and in turn our guests get a convince, maybe a better price or some other special treatment. We can use Laurie Gilson as the bath house for example. We will need someone for laundry services and decide what to do about breakfast. We either hire our own breakfast cook or have someone else manage that using our kitchen. Maybe you can come up with some other partnership ideas. I am only interested in businesses that treat the customers well like we do."By four-thirty Kate was back in town and heading over to Laurie Gilson's where she took a long soak. For the wedding she dressed in one of the new gowns she'd brought from Boston. It was a summer dress of pale lavender with a layered bustle in the back. A cameo necklace nestled in the hollow of her throat over the square neckline. She twisted some of her hair up behind her head, and let the rest hang loose, then pinned her hat on and went over to the El Parador.Kate entered the El Parador and seeing thta Conrad wasn't there yet, went looking for Dorita to see if there was something she could do to help. There was no doubt Dorita would be busy with something.  She then sees Dorita has the entire kitchen whipped up into an assembly line preparing food for the wedding reception, with Pedro, Pepita, Angelica and Ricardo all busy cooking various things. She tells Kate that there isn't room for any more people in the crowded room, but if she wants to help she can go over to the Lucky Lady's kitchen where Maria and her brother Estaban are also busy making food for the occasion.She replies, "I can't, I'm to meet Mr. Booth here. But perhaps my best help is to keep myself as far away from the cooking as possible." With a smile she slipped out of the way, acting a bit like Ginnie and snitching a sweet to nibble on while she waited for Conrad.  Conrad arrives fifteen minutes later in the company of Manuel Escobar, the reclusive Mother Jaminez and a rather old looking high elf in native garb.Kate stood up and walked over with a smile. She greeted Mother Jaminez first, then Mr. Escobar and offered a friendly nod to the stranger. "I'm glad to see you all under such pleasant circumstances."  Escobar introduces the old Indian as Jadito, stating that he is "an old family friend." Kate recognizes the name from Escobar's origin story told at the meeting on Wednesday morning. He is the Yavapai elf who along with Mother Jaminez and a Hopi centuar helped the Escobar family in getting the pregnant wood elves safely away from Coronado's troops three-and-a-half centuries earlier. Jadito smiles and says, "And you are the Katherine Kale who Mother Jaminez has spoken of. It is good of you to be willing to own property with a Yavapai elf, few humans would be so generous."   Kate replies, "It was only good sense to own the property with friends. We had need of the skills each of us could provide, although I must admit Sonoma and Flint do the lions share of the work. We'll be looking for ranch hands now.   You are Yavapai.  Have you have seen Nanuet recently? I know he was traveling to see his people, I hope he got there with little trouble?"Jadito replies, "He is currently with the Yavapai tribal elders. They have gone to Prescott to meet with the Territorial Governor in an attempt to repair the damage caused by the actions of the renegades."   Kate says, "I hope the Governor has the wisdom to listen. You've come for the wedding? I haven't seen so much of the town excited since the Festival."   He replies, "The wedding yes....and also to live here. I have already registered to vote.""Wonderful," Kate said with a wide smile. "I hope you'll find Promise City to your liking. Miss Florencia will be glad of your presence, I'm sure. Young Nakomo is staying with her and she's finding having an adolescent boy around a bit overwhelming."He replies, "I know that I will like it here, I lived here for several centuries. Of course, that was before there was a town here. But Manuel says that there is finally hope for the races to coexist which is what I have always supported. I will be pleased to lend my voice to that. I only wish that a more reasonable leader was in charge of the Chiricahua Apache than Geronimo. But I will do what I can to help moderate him." He then states, "I have one of the other reasons I have come here is for Nakomo. If you could direct me to the home of this Priestess Florencia I would like to have a conversation with both her and the young man."  Kate says, "She'll be performing the ceremony soon, so you can see her there. But just in case..." Kate went on to describe where the new house was that Minerva lived in. "She'll be pleased to hear news of Nanuet."   Thank you," he states. He speaks briefly to both Jiminez and Escobar and then heads out on his own.   Escobar then heads into the kitchen to speak to Pedro.</blockquote>

Verification