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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3164504" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter One-hundred-three, “Jake and Van Horne”, Thursday June 8th, 1882, 6:30 P.M. Emily's heart beat faster as the rhythm of the train started and slowly sped up as it pulled out of the station.  Her stepfather stood on the platform waving and she waved back, flashing him her brightest smile.  Somewhere within her she knew she should be sad like she had been in the garden, but her reprieve there seemed to have purged the melancholy and instead of looking back she looked forward.  Home would still be there and trains went both ways. Faster than she could have imagined they were outside the edge of the city and flying through the trees.  In less than an hour she was farther away from home than she'd ever been.  It seemed like things should look different, but she wasn't really very far away yet and the trees and grass looked like the same familiar friends she knew.  Of course, inside this train she couldn't run into those woods and climb the trees.  Hopefully there would be trees to climb in Arizona.  She liked to be up high among the birds and leaves.   Emily pulled the letter from her Uncle out of her bag and carefully unfolded it.  It was really addressed to her mother, but since it was about Emily she'd been allowed to take it with her.  She skimmed over the first part where he inquired after everyone's health and started at the second paragraph. Promise City has taken the first steps toward incorporation.  As I write this the debate about who gets the vote is raging on.  There are many passionate supporters of extending voting rights to all races and genders.  I feel optimistic that those voices will win the day, which is one of the reasons I decided to write.   Your girl Emily must be nearly grown now, and when we last wrote you mentioned that she was growing more dissatisfied with city life but you weren't sure what else you could offer her.  I remember visiting Chicago and while I enjoyed the company I longed for the wide open spaces as Emily seems to.  There are many elves and half-elves here, and greater opportunities for people with the temperament we seem to share.   My own daughters are grown now, and while they still need some looking after I find myself with a lot more free time than I used to have.  I'd like to invite Emily to come out and live with us for a while.  If she likes it we can make it a permanent arrangement. It would be difficult to part with your eldest, but I know her happiness is your greatest concern and I really believe Promise City would be good for her.  Please consider and wire me back as to what you think. The letter went on but it wasn't anything that concerned Emily.  She remembered her Uncle Emery as a tall man with a warm hug and comforting voice.  Vaguely she remembered him as a partner in crime for a little girl who would rather run wild outdoors than sew quilt blocks.  Each time her nerves resurfaced she brought up those faded memories and glanced at the letter.Back in the town that is her destination, Jake leaves the cantina, he contemplates going to look for his friend Red but thinks the better of it. He decides to let Van Horne find him, that way it is less suspicious. As he walks back to the Lucky Lady in time for his Thursday night game, he chuckles as he remembers the staged card game at the Three Gods Meetinghouse. Jake is not one to dwell the fact that Niles was killed while he and Ruby were away, though he sometimes wonders if that night would have turned out different if he were there.Flashback - Three Gods Meetinghouse the night after the Tombstone Fire: Van Horne starts up the poker game and Jake is eager to join up.  He places piece of paper in front of Van Horne who reads it, nods and has one of his assistants hand Jake a large stack of chips. Word goes around and soon others are arranging their stake. City Councilor Charles Hummel, who broke even at Marybeth's table, takes a seat while a Mr. Granville Benson of Denver waits his turn. He places five thousand dollars worth of gold coins on the table and receives five stacks of chips, which only look about one third of Silver Jake Cook's stake. Next up is Mr. Robert F. Bates with his companion Kat standing behind him followed by former Governor Safford who has decided to change from Faro to Poker. Once everyone is settled, Cornelius Van Horne welcomes them all with his exquisite southern manners, almost as thick as his drawl. Jake is the model of confidence, tuxedo looking sharp, stake standing tall and his smile almost as bright as the chandeliers. The game starts slowly, with the players feeling each other out before the stakes begin to grow. Benson watches the others intently, but seems to dismiss Jake who is by far the youngest player at the table. Jake makes the first foray into larger bets, and takes a pot without anyone calling his bluff. Benson comments, "Nouveaux riches." with a deplorable attempt at authentic French pronunciation. Jake acknowledges his comment with a predatory smile, and it takes every bit of Red O'Brien's self control not to burst out laughing at the man that Jake will shortly separate from his stake. In the next hour, Jake does indeed manage to part Benson from half his stack, but it is Governor Safford who cleverly underplays his hand and catches Benson for the rest of his stake. Councilor Hummel who has lost half his stake and feeling out classed takes the opportunity to retire from the game as well. The remaining four players take a short break. Refreshed, the four begin again but without the cautiousness of the first round. Though Jake Cook and Governor Safford began the second round ahead the stakes quickly rise and fall in a series of large pots that get the assembled crowd watching with hushed fascination. At the end of the second hour Van Horne is now ahead significantly and Safford has managed to hold on to his earlier winnings while Jake and Bates are down, their stacks looking about the same a little under ten thousand dollars worth. On the next hand, Jake pushes the pot up quickly while Van Horne drops out. The betting continues until Jake, after examining the facial expressions of his two remaining rivals, slides in the rest of his stake. Safford eyes him warily and then laughs, "Youngster, you are bluffing." He drops his cards on the table. "However, I am not willing to pay to find out." Jake just nods without cracking a smile. "I'll pay," says Bates followed by a sharp intake of breath from his girl, Kat. Robert Bates pushes his remaining stake into the pot without counting it and then drops his cards face up on the table. "I'll save you the embarrassment boy," he adds gloating over his two pair, aces over jacks. "Fair hand," replies Jake barely moving his lips. Without further pretense, Silver Jake Cook drops his cards face up on the table. "You paid for them." Bates shakes his head and stands when he sees the full house, three threes and two sixes. "A pleasure," Jake says with no hint of sarcasm. "Very bold, gentlemen." Van Horne collects up the cards while Jake rakes in his chips. They do not stop for a break. Several more hands are dealt but nothing notable happens. Finally, Safford opens the betting aggressively. Jake eyes him and Van Horne carefully before reluctantly calling him. Van Horne does not look at his cards before matching the bet. Safford draws one, Jake and Van Horne each take two. Jake watches Safford carefully. The former governor makes a good sized bet, but Jake judges the man is making a good show and is disappointed in his draw. Jake sees his bet and doubles it. Van Horne raises an eyebrow, glances once at his cards and calls Jake's bet. Safford spends a good minute staring at Jake before doubling the younger gambler's bet. A grin slowly spreads to Silver Jake Cook's face. He pushes enough to match the bet into the pot. "Mr. Van Horne, would you spot me the difference between what I have left in my stack and what is in the Governor's?" "Another bold play Mr. Cook? What are you willing to put up against it?" "You know I am good for it," Jake says smoothly. "I do not have anything else with me." "Highly irregular sir, you know we have certain rules. I would accept, say, five percent of your saloon. I know it quite well." Van Horne looks smug. "The Lucky Lady?" Jake looks surprised but quickly replies, "Yes. Fine, five percent of the Lady."  "Very well then, I will cover the difference for you." Jake then pushes the rest of his stake into the pot. Van Horne pushes a large stack of chips in as well, "I call." Jake seems surprised and suspicious that Van Horne stayed in. "Not me, I fold." Safford throws his cards down. "Win or lose, Cook, you are too dramatic for me tonight." Jake just shrugs in response and lays his five clubs on the table for all to see. "Not quite good enough," Van Horne says and lays down his full house eights over kings, "partner." The game is over and the crowd begins to disperse. Jake, shaking his head and looking disappointed. Some in the crowd claim that they heard the young gambler say "I will just win it back next time." Flashback to the following morning  "That was quite the performance last night, lad." Red offers Jake a morning drink, some concoction that Richard had made. Jake sips at it, "Not bad. Tequila, orange juice and some sugar I think." Red nods. Jake continues, "Are you implying that you had doubts about that last hand?" "Me boy, you were bordering upon lunacy." Red gives him a broad smile. "Not at all. I was certain Safford had two pair. Mr. Van Horne would not have covered Jake's bet if he was not certain about Safford's hand as well. Nor would Van Horne have if his own hand was not good either." Jake returns the broad smile. "Know me too darn well, you do Jacob. And I you." Red chuckles Jake raises his glass to his friends. After the clink he says, "So there we have it. Van Horne won five percent of the Lucky Lady and I threw you enough cash from the others last night to ease my guilt a bit over the difference in value between the meeting house and the saloon." Jake drinks from the glass and sighs. "Some days life is a fine thing, Mr. O'Brien." "Aye, me boy, that it is, that it is."Back to the present, Jake settles in at the main room of the Lucky Lady. Normally he does not have a drink before starting his game, but he rewards himself with a bourbon for all his hard work today. Here is to you Jake Cook. "Harry," Jake says sipping on the fine Kentucky libation, "better get your hands on some additional bourbon. I have a feeling it will be in demand."  Jake's table soon fills up with Carl Berman, Al Brower, Alfredo Garcia, Pierre Jaquet, Zachary Morand and Don Wainwright."A pleasure to see you all here." They make some small talk and then Jake offers to deal some five card stud while there are so many players.   Clarisse arrives and begins her first set of the night. Darla Peacock starts up a game of Faro over on her table. Tony Lucky appears to be having a particularly good night. The place soon fills up with patrons. Michael George appears to have a good ongoing relationship with a quartet of miners who set themselves up at the bar and look like they're not planning to leave until closing time. Jake's game goes well. Al has his first good game since Madge's departure. By 9:00 PM Don Wainwright decides to call it a night, being down around $ 12. Carl Berman is up a few bucks and decides to head home too.   Jake has them take a break and says they will be switching the game to draw poker since the others have left. He makes a quick sweep of the saloon, checking on his new bartender and Faro dealer. All seems to be going well. He wonders briefly about how Job is doing, but mentally shrugs and goes back to enjoying himself at the Lucky Lady. He talks to big Thom for a moment, as always trying to encourage the simpleton and then stands back enjoying the whiskey and listening to Chet's girl sing.Several heads turn at once and Jake looks to see who has arrived. Mr. Evan Adair is standing in the doorway. He is attired in a European-cut brown suit, gold lamay vest, ivory silk shirt, brown and gold patterned silk tie, and is using a mahogany cane with gold stopper and an ivory handle. He wanders into the room looking from side to side for somebody.   Jake was ready to restart his game but cannot resist greeting his good friend. "Good evening Mr. Adair, welcome back to the Lucky Lady."Adair gives Jake a look of distain and says, "Would Mr. Kane be present? I wish to speak to him."  Jake mocks Adair's look and replies, "Sorry, no. Job is out of town. Anything else we can help you with?"  "Yes," Adair replies as he reaches inside his vest. He removes a newspaper and hands it to Jake saying "I was just reading in this paper from Tucson about what a pathetic loser you are. Gambling away one-fifth of your saloon! I've already dropped a copy of this off at the Promise City Mirror so by this time tomorrow everybody will know of your reckless foolishness.""Heh." Jake says, "Just one fifth of my share, not of the whole saloon. Of course you would not know anything about winning or losing a saloon in a card game." Jake smiles unperturbed. "Nice of you to be concerned enough to let everyone know. Did you come here to offer to buy my share out in addition to young Hoovers?"   Adair laughs and says, "Yes, I've heard that rumor, but my sources indicate that is Mr. Austin Blake who wishes to purchase a portion of this rat trap. Why would I want it? I already have the best saloon in town. If Mr. Kane is not here I will be leaving. However you can expect to see me back here during the Tournament, you can feel free to gamble away the rest of your ownership of this place then so that I can sell that to Blake."Jake says, "I will count the days in eager expectation of seeing you again. I am impressed that you will come and play with the big boys. It would be a shame if I am the only one not afraid of gambling against the famous Cornelius Van Horne. Good night to you Evan Adair." Jake turns his back on the man but looks at him out of the corner of his eye from the mirror behind the bar.Adair shakes his head and turns towards the door. Michael George moves out from behind the bar and moves over to the door to intercept him, moving to block the doorway. "What?" Adair exclaims. George gestures to the cane and says, "Sir, the next time you come here please remember to check that, sword canes aren't permitted inside this building." He then steps aside to let Adair depart.   After Adair is gone Jake points at his new bar tender and comments, "Nicely done, sir, nicely done." Michael George replies, "Thank you, I was hoping that I wasn't overstepping my bounds. I recognized that cane for what it was because I saw it for sale from that merchant caravan that was in town back during the festival. Interesting that Adair felt the need to have a weapon with him when he came in here."   "Heh," Jake replies, "you may have noticed that he and I do not exactly get along. He tried to kill me once." Jake shrugs. "Possibly he assumes I will return the favor. In any case do not antagonize him unnecessarily. He is a vengeful man."  Michael George says, "I had heard that. I've never interacted with him before though, our Peacock's Saloon was beneath his notice."  "Fortunate for you." They are well into the second round of poker at Jake's table when Emery Shaw, Forest and Temple Morand, Ricardo Perez, Flint Greymountain and Katherine Kale take seats at a table. Jake nods to them and smiles. When Nakomo wanders by next, Jake waves him over. Nakomo dresses and looks at himself in the mirror his face is bright red except for the large white circles around his eyes where the glasses afforded him some protection from the sun as he repaired the roof. He looks down at his hands, which are also not burnt because of the gloves that the sheriff insist that he wear. He groans and pales at the sight of his crimson flesh, his stomach somersaulting as he breaths deeply to suppress the nausea. He flinches when he touches the burning flesh of his arms and hobbles out the door to begin his nightshift at the Lucky Lady."Give Mr. Shaw a message for me boy," Jake starts to say and then stops noticing that Nakomo's skin is burnt and blistered in sections on his face. "What in Hades happened to you? I sure trust whatever caused this was worth the trouble." Jake shakes his head a couple of times and continues, "Tell Mr. Shaw I will stop over and speak to him about Mr. Lumley at my next game break." Jake then winces, "That appears mighty painful," and shaking his head again turns back to his game.   Nakomo replies, "Apollo, Sir."   Manuel Escobar notices Nakomo showing Jake the burns and blisters now as well. He stands and tells his companions, "Please excuse me.”  He approaches the table and says, “I feel that I should take this boy over to see Father Valdez about these injuries."  Nakomo says, "No Sir, I am fine Sir. I have to get back to work now." he backs away and makes his way to the kitchen as quickly as he can, clenching his teeth against the pain as he does so.Shaw comes over to see what the problem is.    "Stubborn one that boy is," Shaw states. Escobar replies, "Well then, I guess I'll just have to bring Father Valdez back here." The elf heads out the door. Shaw turns to Jake and says, "Manny's already thinking like a town leader. When the second break at Jake's game comes around, he immediately makes his way to the Cattlemen's table.   "Good evening all." Jake takes a seat without waiting to be offered one. "I had a conversation with Lumley. He was not ready to join the ticket yet, but I at least convinced him to delay joining Adair's. He wants to hear about your platform before he makes a decision, which seems reasonable. He is still fixated on aggressively going after the Law and Order party. I am not so certain that the best way to counter them is attack them directly, but certainly their outlandish proposals needed to be countered. I suggest you speak to him in the morning. You need a platform to go public with in any case."Shaw replies, "Yes we do, but unlike the Law and Order Party I refuse to set a platform without the participation of ALL of the candidates, so it will have to wait until we recruit them. I'll head over and talk to Lumley in the morning, thanks for helping out Jake."  Jake just nods. "I also spoke with Al Brower a bit. He is ready to support the party when it goes public. And as soon as you do, we will work on some additional supporters. For now though, unless you particularly need something from me, the next steps are up to you."Shaw says "That's fine. We're going to have the Cattleman's Association be the Party's Headquarters, but the party will officially rent the building from them to keep the two organizations separate. We discussed several other candidates who we will need to approach about the council positions."  Jake lets that statement hang in the air for a long moment, just nodding and smiling.Shaw continues, “Anyway, as I was saying, they want Chester Martin as Marshall but if he says no they will approach Neil Cassidy for that position.  For the remaining three council positions the group decided that they want one to represent the clergy, with Priestess Florencia being the first choice and Father Valdez the back-up if she refuse.  A representative from the mining community would be next on their list, with Patrick Seawell being the first and only choice. If he refuses Flint here says we should list him on the ballot until he can find another miner who the group approves of.  Lastly we want somebody representative of the town Merchants, with Cole Rixton as our first choice and Kevin Kelly as the alternative choice."Jake listens intently, nodding as he goes along. "Well thought out. Though I personally like the man, Valdez may be too much too soon for those folks that would support you but are new to this unity thinking." Jake smiles and stands. "To Luck," he takes a sip of his bourbon, "but let us not leave it only to luck. I must return to work."</blockquote>

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