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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3200599" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter One-hundred-twelve, “Race to the Ranch”, Saturday June 10th, 1882, 10:00 A.M. Chester heads downstairs followed by Kate, Jake, Minerva and Father Harbrace. They enter to see Marshall Berg standing beside Deputy Sheriff 'Buckskin' Frank Leslie and Deputy Sheriff Dave Nagle.  Berg says, "Chet, I wanted to let you know that Sheriff Leslie has officially taken charge of the investigation of the murders of Hunter, Ordway and Thayer. There is no evidence that any of it took place inside of our jurisdiction." Leslie gives the quartet following Chet an icy stare. His gaze turns back to Chester and with a look of pure evil in his eyes he says, "The dead horse at the scene has been identified. The animal's name was Chico and had belonged to a Tombstone rancher named Charlie Strachan.  He sold it to Wyatt Earp the day of the Tombstone Fire, right after Earp rescued that man from Brown's Hotel. Interesting thing, the only one who died in that fire was a resident of Brown's named Hank Swelling, and Swelling's name kept coming up during the investigation of the Morgan Earp shooting." Leslie then glances towards the others, shifting his gaze between Jake and Kate, and says, "More familiar faces, former friends of Earp. I don't suppose either of you who know where I might find your former Marshall?"   Kate met the man's gaze with a calm one of her own. "I don't know where you get your information Sheriff. Wyatt Earp and I have never been what anyone would call friends. I have no interest in where that man is except that it be far away from here; I don't know nor do I care to."Leslie stares back into Kate's eyes and says, "Not your friend Mrs. Kale? Didn't I hear that you had a hand in saving his brother Morgan's life last winter? And wasn't that your brother whose life Earp saved in Tombstone? Strikes me as a pretty strong bond. So you're saying that if we ride out to your ranch right now we won't fine Earp hiding there?""Heh." Jake snorts out. "If you know where that outlaw is hiding what are you doing standing here bothering a widow woman? I can go get the newspaper man, I am sure he would like to be around to witness you taking down the famous Wyatt Earp. You would be world famous. If you survived of course."  Nagle says, "We've already talked to that little newspaper guy, he knows who we're after." Leslie says, "That ranch is just a hunch, we'll see if it pans out. You'd better hope that we don't find evidence of him there Mrs. Kale. He murdered a Sheriff, and harboring someone whose done that is not taken lightly. We find him there you'll be an old woman by the time you see the outside of a prison cell."Kate exclaims, "He's not there, feel free to look all you like. Saving Morgan's life is a decision I've questioned more than once. When Wyatt saved my brother we were even. My dearest wish is to never see another Earp again," she practically spat, leaving no doubt of the sincerity of her last statement.The Deputy Sheriffs both depart, mounting their horses outside and riding off to the south. Berg shakes his head and says, "I wish I did know where Earp was, I'd warn him to get the Hades out of here." Harbrace comments, "I'd say those men haven't got a clue. They were here on a fishing expedition, hoping to catch a bite from one of you."Kate was standing behind the bar and pouring a drink before she realized what she was doing. She shoved it away from her and turned her back. "It never ends. Why can't it just end?"  Big Thom walks up to her and says, "What do you want to end?"  She took a deep breath and calmed herself. "Just an old misunderstanding, Thom. One that now and then drops trouble at my door. It's alright, it will pass soon enough."   Thom nods and goes back to work. Father Harbrace Departs. Mitchell Berg motions for Katherine and her friends to step over to the side of the room. Berg lowers his voice so it won't carry beyond the small group and says, "The other day Deputy Martin and I spoke to Earp. He was up on the hill not far from your Ranch Mrs. Kale.  He indicated that he was keeping an eye on it." Berg then unfastens his metal badge from his shirt and pockets it. He looks back towards her and says, "I'm speaking now not as the Town Marshall but as Mrs. Kale's attorney. Those Deputies were not kidding about prison for Mrs. Kale and the ranch owners if they find Earp there. I'm not asking if he is, just saying that if there is even a remote possibility of that being the case, then it is imperative that we find some way to get a message to Mrs. Kale's associates Miss Figures and Mr. Greymountain before those County lawmen arrive there. At a good gallop they will probably be there in the next ten to fifteen minutes."Kate says, "There is a remote possibility, but it would be without our knowledge or permission. Wyatt feels some sense of obligation toward me.”  Berg replies, "Do you honestly think that will make any difference at all to Leslie and Nagle in the mood they are in? They'll still bring you all up on charges as an accomplice to Hunter's murder and it won't be Isby who decides but the Territorial Magistrates."  Kate says, "No, I don't think it will make the least bit of difference. I said that for your benefit. You may be speaking as my attorney but I still wanted you to know that.” Kate says, “We can't just send someone, they'd know we sent a warning and that would just draw suspicion. I have a thought, but I have to go see someone for help. Mr. Berg, as my attorney I think we should sit down for a talk later or tomorrow. There are private matters that I think perhaps I've held a bit too privately. If anyone has another idea after I've gone don't hesitate. I should be back in about fifteen minutes, perhaps a bit more. Excuse me, please.   I'll be back."  Kate didn't wait to hear arguments but walked back to the El Parador and up to see her teacher.She departs.  Chester says, "If Earp isn't at the ranch, we better find him before Leslie does. If they catch him, who knows what they'll do to make him talk. They could use his 'confession' to sweep up anyone else the Cowboys don't like."  Jake says, "I doubt that I can outride those two, I would be willing to try you thought I had a chance. Senorita Florencia, could that bird of yours deliver a message to Miss Figures before they arrive?"   "Luna, Would you do that?" She turns back to Jake. "She could if she knew where to look and what she looked like. Do you know where she is?"  "For sure? No. We are betting that either Sonoma or Flint are at the ranch. Flint is probably easier to pick out at a distance," Jake says with a chuckle. "Luna has seen both Sonoma Figures and Flint Greymountain before."   Minerva turns and silently communes with Luna for a moment, and then scribbles a note of warning. Luna clutches it in her talons, gives a soft hoot and takes flight, heading for the ranch.  Minerva turns back to the others. "Let us hope that Hermes’s is on our side."Jake says, "Anyone think we ought to go out there and see what is happening for ourselves? Or are we best to just have them find no Earp on their own? I hate the idea of those two leaning on Flint or Sonoma. On the other hand she is liable to turn them into a newt, or Flint will just stuff a stick of dynamite up..." Jake smirks and shrugs. "You get my point."  Chester states, “If we do, then the sheriffs are going to think that we're warning Flint and Sonoma. Of course, we are, but that's besides the point. We don't want them thinking that we're hiding anything. We can ride out there later."Kate reaches the secret door in Gonzales’s room and activates the magical doorway.  She enters his rooms and calling for him.   "Grandfather?" she called as she entered the secret rooms through her teachers bedroom at the El Parador. "It's important, I need you to help Sonoma," she continued as she began to look in each room.  Kate finds Gonzales asleep in his bedroom. He awakens and says, "I'm sorry my little bird, I got caught up in a book last night and spent the whole night reading. What is it that I can help you with?"  Gonzales says, "Relax little bird, I can head out there if you wish."   "I would appreciate it. I just don't want Sonoma and Flint to be surprised or hounded by those two. Leslie might be holding Cowboy Gang grudges." Kate leaned over and hugged him. "Thank you. Everything seems urgent to me lately.""Not a problem," he replies. He heads off into his workroom where he gets the fire in his brazier going. While it is heating up he grabs a few other odds and ends from the workroom which he puts into a satchel and slings over his shoulder. He then returns to the brazier and tells Kate "I'll stay out there after they leave. We can talk there when you head out for Mrs. Fly's riding lesson." He tosses in the pink powder, states the incantation and then vanishes.It was odd to be suddenly alone in the rooms. She quietly turned and went walked back to the Lucky Lady. "A message should reach the ranch before those men do," she said without offering further explanation. "Two messages perhaps, if you thought of something?"Minerva replies, "Si, Luna is on her way with a message. But Wyatt Earp is just a fly in the ointment compared to the evil that lurks in this town. It will be a while before the stage shows up and I would like to educate Padre Harbrace on the vile creatures that we are battling. I have brought the books that I got from Edwards. It is important that he knows what he is up against." She hands Harbrace the books. "Read thought the chapters that I have dog-eared and then we will discuss what you have learned." "Let us discuss what we have to fight these creatures. I have Edward's gun and a limited supply of silver bullets. Nakomo and Padre Harbrace have the arrows that Diana assures us will destroy the abominations if used at the proper time. I still have quite a bit of holy water left and have taken the opportunity to purchase more garlic." She rummages through her bag and pulls out several strings of garlic and vials of holy water which she places on the table. “I don't have enough mirrors but I think that it would be good for everyone to carry one. Jake has found that it works to identify them, since they cast no reflection. I would also feel better if everyone wore a holy symbol. I have brought several which Minerva and Jupiter have blessed. "She says pulling several necklaces out of her bag. Chester, do you still wear yours?”   "Chester pulls out a chain around his neck and pulls out the holy symbol. "Yep. Right here. Doesn't do me any good in my room. That garlic necklace is still good too."   Minerva asks, “What else do we have and what more do we need?”  Kate says, "I always carry a small mirror, I was using it in Thomaswell long before Jake. Unfortunately things always moved so quickly I couldn't get word to anyone before they found out other ways.  May I suggest the Lady redecorate a bit with a few larger mirrors in inconvenient places? Considering they may know people at the Lady have some experience with them, making it an uncomfortable place for them seems like a good idea. As for what else to have, wooden stakes and fire. Mostly we need information; as in where to find them.""I am not worried about finding them. It seems that if we stand in one place long enough, trouble has a way of finding us." The priestess chuckles mirthlessly.  “I do like your idea about the mirrors. Glass is rather precious in Arizona though. I have a large one in my bedroom, if you would like to borrow it, Jake."  Luna flies back into the Lucky Lady around a half-hour after her departure. She has a note tied to her leg. Minerva unrolls it and says, "Not a language that I know." Kate glances at it. She cannot read the language either but recognizes it as being written in Dwarven.  She says, "Dwarven, it must be from Flint, but I can't read it. I probably should learn Dwarven some time. Your friend Hilldi could probably read it for us."  Maria is bringing some food out of the kitchen when Kate says that and says "Dwarven? Dorita knows that language.""I'll take it over and ask her to read it. I'd ask her to come here, but Dorita is hardly someone you summon." Kate smiled. "Thank you, Maria, I should have realized Dorita would speak Dwarven." Kate took the slip of paper and went back to the El Parador.  Kate locates Dorita in the kitchen and requests that she translate the note. Even before being told who the author is the wood elf says, "Ah, from Flint, I know his writing, very sloppy and not get all the Dwarven symbols correct. He had poor teacher as a boy."  She translates the note as: "Thanks. Our guest left earlier this morning when I said you had lessons with townsfolk later today. He purchased the chestnut mustang from the far corral. Will tell you more later.""Thank you Dorita, that's a load off my mind. At least he had a teacher, not everyone's so lucky." She kissed Dorita's cheek. "I must come and spend some time with you instead of just running in and out. Sometimes I miss living here."  Kate then headed back to the Lucky Lady, glad the distance between the two saloons was negligible. "Everything's alright, there's nothing on the ranch for them to find," she said, aware that Mr. Berg was still there to hear.Berg stays for another ten minutes until Helen Barker comes in. She says, "Hey Mitch, Chumbley's paper just came out and it has that Deputy Sheriff threatening to go murder Wyatt! You know about this?" Berg says, "Yeah Helen, we've been taken off the case of those three murders up by the mountain. Let's head over to the Sheriff's Office and I'll fill you and Eddie in on the particulars." Chester says to Berg, "You want me to come along too, Marshall?"   Berg replies, "No Chet, you already know what I'm going to tell Helen and Eddie. You're not on duty again until 10:00 PM tonight, enjoy your day as best as you can."  Chester smiles grimly. "I'll make the best of it, even though we have murderers and creatures of the night roaming the area. You watch yourselves. Even if Sheriff Hunter was mixed up with the Cowboys, killing him was a serious thing. here's no telling what they'll do to stop us from looking into this. I'll see you tonight." The lawman and deputy prepare to depart. On her way out Helen calls over to Kate and Jake, "You'll want to grab a copy of that paper as soon as you can, there are several new surprises on the election front. There are now a total of forty candidates running for the seven positions! Isby's now talking about maybe needing a run-off election to narrow the field.""Chumbley should be around with it, he always stops by," Kate said. "It's good to know there are that many people who care about the town, forty candidates is a huge number. A lot of people to split the vote between."    Jake asks, “Is there anything else we need to do before the stage gets here?""I don't think so," Kate said. "And there's little point in hashing over ground now that we're just going to have to hash over again after Mr. Tomlinson and Mr. Harker when they get here. What time is it now?"   Jake pulls out his pocket watch, "It is 10:45. I suggest we all meet back here around three o'clock. We should know by then if the hunters have returned. I will be in and out between then if you are looking for me." Jake wanders over to the Comique in search of Al Brower.  Al Brower, Pierre Jaquet, Warren Watson, and four patrons of the Comique comprised of two humans and two dwarves are all busy purchasing newspapers from Chumbley.  Jake buys one from the Halfling as well. "Good morning Al. How are you today?"  Al replies, "Good morning Jake, it's good to see you! How are things going over in your neck of the woods?"  Jake answers, "Good! That is part of why I came over to tell you about it. We did not see you last night, I wanted to make sure nothing was wrong."Al says, "Downing my sorrows, and quite frankly, did not care to see you at the time. I heard that Van Horne was back in town. He just about broke us last time around. Imagine my surprise when I read in yesterday's paper that he's back because of you. Jake, how could you be so stupid as to gamble away part of the Lady to him?"   "Oh that." He grins sheepishly and shrugs, "Seemed like a good bet at the time. Look, Al, I am sure it will all work out.... somehow." Jake says rather vaguely. "Come on over here," he says to Al indicating a table away from the others. They sit and Jake tells him about his dealings with Blake. "It was darned crazy to be bidding against him for Hoover's share of the saloon. Solves a problem for us, we needed someone to run the hotel business. I still think there is a need for the additional place you and he are planning. If you need an extra partner in that I would be interested. That and he reminded me of something I had meant to do a while ago, make agreements with some businesses that increase our own. We were thinking that the Lucky Lady and the Comique could do a little more cooperating in ways that are good for both."Al Brower says, "I'm happy to hear about that....I was beginning to wonder. First you expand your place, then, then you schedule that Shakespeare play at your place and the Gay Lady while we have a perfectly good stage here, and lastly you hire Clarisse away from me full-time. Bringing Van Horne back to town was the last straw for me. You may not have been trying to put the Comique out of business but that was starting to be the result.""No, we will not be putting you out of business. Adair, well that would be another story." Jake pauses for a moment to enjoy that prospect. "No, we need to keep you in business pal."  Al says, "I hope so. Pierre and I try to be good neighbors and I've certainly brought enough of my own business into your place the last year or so. Now do you think you might be able to talk your new business partner Van Horne into avoiding the Comique? I'd appreciate it."Jake says, "We are not exactly the best of friends, but I will see if I cannot figure out a way to keep him out of your place."  Al replies, "I'd appreciate that. I'll stop by later tonight for the game. It's the Barker's week to play at your place. As much as I like Stanley's playing here I enjoy playing poker with Helen at your table even more."   "See you tonight then." Jake goes back to the saloon to read his paper.The sixteen-page Saturday June 10th Promise City Mirror has the headline of: “Surprise Candidate Becomes Mayoral Frontrunner” The story reads: While the five established political parties were all scrambling to meet the Friday evening candidate registration deadline a surprise candidate was quietly gathering his own signatures, obtaining more than three times the number of signatures needed for filing. Vidkan Gerhardsen, the dwarven co-owner and foreman of the Last Ditch Mine walked into Judge Nathan Isby’s office a half-hour before the deadline with a total of ninety signatures on his petition as a mayoral candidate. What is even more surprising is that Gerhardsen doesn’t speak either English or Spanish, the two primary languages spoken in Promise City. While the five established political parties had focused their signature gathering efforts within the confines of the town itself Gerhardsen had spent the week visiting the outlying mines and businesses. At the various mines he gathered his first thirty signatures. His next forty-five signatures were obtained at the manufacturing faculties being constructed up in Bowie Valley by industrialist Frederick von Zeppelin, where most of the workers are from Germany. Gerhardsen lived most of his life in Norway but his dwarven mother was from Germany where he visited on several occasions and is fluent in that language. His final fifteen signatures were obtained Thursday night and Friday afternoon at both the El Parador Cantina and the Comique Variety Hall and Saloon, where he usually frequents during his visits to town. El Parador owner Pedro Figures said, “I was happy to sponsor him, he’s a good customer. The other employees and I had signed petitions for Manuel Escobar, Estaban Fuente and Cole Rixton for Town Council plus Chester Martin for Marshall but Vidkan’s was the first Mayoral petition that was brought here.” While petition signers are under no specific obligation to cast their final ballot for those that they sponsored, if they do it would leave Vidkan the winner given his ninety signatures compared to the twenty-five each for the other five registered candidates, with only fifty-six registered voters remaining that did not sign a mayoral petition. In an interview with the Mirror Editor Gerhardsen explained through his translator Bjorn Kviteseid that he considers himself to be the most qualified of the six candidates for mayor as he served as mayor of his home village in Norway for fourteen years. A related short story on page three mentions that there are now a grand total of forty candidates registered to run for office including 6 Mayoral candidates, 7 Marshall candidates and 27 town council candidates. Of that, 35 are from the 5 political parties and 5 remain independent candidates. Judge Isby is quoted as saying that he is now considering first having a run-off election to narrow the field, as it is probably that the highest vote getter could now be nowhere near having a majority. There are advertisements within the newspaper for all five political parties that list their final registered candidates. As was previously reported, the Law and Order Party has Frank Condon for Mayor, Ashley King for Marshall, and for Town Council it has Zebadiah Cook, James Eaton, Calvin Oldfield, Bill Watkins and Dennis Winston. The advertisement announces that following Sunday’s worship service the Party will host a picnic in the field north of town and all are invited to attend. The advertisement for the Integrity Party lists Derek Avery for Mayor, Michael Seawell for Marshall, and for Town Council it has Neil Cassidy, Roger Fly, Judge Lacey, Joe Riser and Elihu Upton. The party announces that they will host a Sunday breakfast at the Promise City Hotel between the hours of 6:00 and 10:00 A.M. The advertisement for the Unity Party lists Emery Shaw for Mayor, Chester Martin for Marshall, and for Town Council it has Helen Barker, Vera Blake, Manuel Escobar, Cole Rixton and Patrick Seawell. It states that a rally will be held on Sunday evening at Drover’s Hotel and that complimentary food and beverages will be served. The advertisement for the Liberty Party lists Hamilton Fisk as Mayor, Charlie Villars as Marshall, and for Town Council it has Denny Geurin, Bronco Madson, Porter Norris, Ike Sherman and Jessie Sherman. Fisk advertises a Saturday night rally at his party headquarters on Sierra Street with free beverages for those in attendance. The back-page advertisement for the Freedom Party lists Evan Adair as Mayor, Prosper ‘Deacon’ McCoy as Marshall and for Town Council it has Tector Driscoll, Kate Higgins, Steve Lord, Burton Lumley and Bob Skull. The advertisement includes three coupons redeemable on Saturday evening at the Palace Saloon, one for a free drink, another for ten-dollars in chips useable at the Palace’s poker, faro or roulette tables, and a final coupon for a fifty-percent discount for ‘other services’. A half-page advertisement for Estaban Fuente promises a vivacious and highly-spirited celebration at the El Parador on Saturday evening to kick-off his campaign for Town Council. Mayoral candidate Vidkan Gerhardsen has a quarter page advertisement mentioning that he is hosting rallies for his campaign both Saturday and Sunday evenings at the Comique Variety Hall and Saloon at which time he would be happy to share a tankard of Dwarven Ale with voters and discuss his plans. A new candidate for office is announced with a quarter-page advertisement is Jeremiah Peck, an employee of the Gunsight Brickyard, who has decided to run as an independent candidate for Town Council. It is the only political advertisement that doesn’t mention any type of rally, however Peck does volunteer to sit down and chat with any interested voter about the issues concerning the town. The center two pages of the paper, pages 8 and 9, are a two-page spread announcing Hank Hill of Arcade’s Gang as the best candidate for Town Marshall. The advertisement cites that he is the only candidate running with a reputation that will deter criminals from flocking to town. The advertisement also concludes with the campaign slogan of “A vote for me….will really annoy Bill Watkins!” The fifth and final new candidate mentioned in the paper is a half-page advertisement for a Moss Johnson as candidate for Town Marshall. It cites that he has been in town for two months, working at the Beatrice Mine. Johnson introduces himself as a Union Army Civil War veteran, citing multiple battles that he fought in and ending the war with the rank of Lieutenant. He then advanced to the rank of Captain fighting in the Indian campaigns, including the campaign against the Apache led by Cochise. He says that his experience is what is needed to deal with the Apache threat that Promise City is now facing. There is a non-political advertisement on page five placed by Josie Marcus announcing the production of Romeo and Juliet that will be held the following weekend, with a Friday night performance at the Lucky Lady Dance Hall and Saloon, a Saturday night performance at the Gay Lady Dance Hall and Saloon, and a Sunday matinee at the Promise City Town Hall. The cost to attend is $ 1.00 for the Friday and Saturday night performances and for the matinee the cost is fifty-cents for adults and ten-cents for children. A story appears on page four under the headline “Sheriff’s Office accuses Wyatt Earp of Murders”. The story says that Deputy Sheriff Frank Leslie has taken over the investigation begun by Marshall Berg into the deaths of Jasper Ordway, Nicholas Thayer and Deputy Sheriff Colin Hunter. A dead appaloosa horse found at the murder scene belonged to none of those men and has now been positively identified as the horse which Wyatt Earp purchased from a Tombstone rancher back on May 25th. Leslie is quoted to say, “Earp is continuing his blood war against the innocent who he mistakenly thinks killed his brothers. He’s gone mad, now murdering lawmen in cold blood. Up until now Sheriff Behan wanted to take him alive but that’s no longer an option. The sooner we resolve this the safer everybody will be.”</blockquote>

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