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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3353071" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter One-hundred-forty-one “A Departure, a border and a package”, Tuesday June 13th, 1882, 6:00 A.M.Keeping an eye on the Liberty Party Headquarters building proves to be quite easy for the group, given that it is situated directly across the street from Minerva's house. The two-story clapboard building appears quiet, with a few lights on the second floor. Between those keeping watch from Minerva's house and others hiding on the hill behind it near the Breakheart Mine they are able to keep the house under surveillance for the entire night. During the evening nobody arrives and the only one to leave is Hamilton Fisk who heads next door to his own house for around an hour, returning with a small satchel. Until midnight the front and back doors are guarded by the two Sheriff Deputies who then head inside.Nobody else comes or goes until the sun starts to come over the horizon at 6:00 A.M. "Maybe better luck next time, Chet." Jake wishes him good night and heads home to get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. Jake had not kept watch the whole night, but dozing on the hill side was not the most restful environment.Chester goes back to the Lucky Lady disappointed. They must have been given a line about how it's not safe out here in the daytime. Blast! I guess this means we look at the mine. He tromps up the stairs to his room. Chester sits at his desk for a few minutes before taking off his gun belt and clothes. Once that's done, he drops onto his bed for a few hours sleep.A very tired Nakomo busies himself in the kitchen preparing food. The Rich aroma of coffee and bacon waft into the living room beckoning the group to breakfast. Minerva enters followed by Nanuet. "My, Nakomo that smells delicious!" Minerva compliments as she seats herself at the table. She motions for Nanuet to do the same as Nakomo pours coffee all around and begins serving the meal. "Where are the others?" He asks. Minerva shrugs her shoulders. "I imagine they have gone to their beds to rest, as I shall right after breakfast." Nakomo cleans the kitchen and rests for a while before heading off to school in search of an education and the hopes that perhaps the new girl, Emily will be there.After a quick breakfast Kate and Ginnie were both in the schoolroom for what was quickly becoming the most pleasant part of the day. While Kate, Meghan and Mollie are chatting and preparing for the day's lessons the very pregnant Angela Young comes by selling the morning's edition of the Promise City Mirror. Kate notes that the baby's position has shifted even lower and would not be surprised if it is born on this day.Kate gave the young woman a nickel and thanked her. "I don't imagine we'll be seeing you many more days. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that your new baby has arrived by the end of the day." Angela smiles and says, "Yes, I was beginning to wonder if we might share a birthday, I turn sixteen on Thursday."Meghan asks, "Have you and your husband decided on a name yet?" Angela smiles and says, "Yes, we have decided to name him after the men who saved my life in Tombstone. He will be named Conrad Henry Young." Mollie interjects "And if it is a girl?" Angela smiles and says, "Then we will use female variations of the same, she will be called Henrietta Constance Young." “Oh, that's lovely," Kate said and impulsively embraced the younger woman. "I'll have to write my brother; he'll be so pleased."Angela replies, "Oh, it is the least we can do, they both earned it." She then hurries off as quickly as she can waddle in her present condition. "I'm not looking forward to that," Kate chuckled just loud enough for Mollie to hear as she opened up the papers to skim it's contents. "I wonder who will be delivering the papers and reporting while she recovers." Meghan laughs and says, "I think that halfling editor has enough energy to do both jobs."The top story on page one has the headline "Prisoners Escape from Jail" It states that Clifford Allman, Bob Skull and Jason Snavely apparently used magical means to escape from incarceration from the town jail. It references the related story on page three that explains why they were jailed. That interior story has the headline "Avery murdered by Bob Skull". It details the previous day's trial. The story makes a very clear case that Bob Skull was proven to be the murder of Derek Avery, although also has a quote from Evan Adair implying that his friend was framed by Cole Rixton, who had both motive and opportunity for the crime. The story details the other trial and mentions that both Snavely and Allman's accusations against the Liberty Party members but also emphasizes Judge Isby's feeling that those charges were without merit.Another front page story has the headline "Integrity Party Dissolves" The story details the events of the previous night's debate, beginning with the announcements about the candidates. The story continues on two interior pages going into detail as to what the candidates said. Kate notes that all of Bill Watkins quotes are stated verbatim and in quotation marks rather than being paraphrased as many of the other comments are.The remaining front page story has the headline "More of the New Douglas Gang Caught". It details how Pamela Yeats and Mongo Bailey were captured on Saturday, June 10th in the town of Dillon, Colorado. They had sought sanctuary from a former co-worker of Bailey's whose wife had then alerted the authorities for the reward money. It says that only $ 16,000 of the still missing million dollars was found with them and that the pair claim to have no knowledge of the present whereabouts of gang leader Deadeye Douglas and safecracker Mae Clark. The article states that they will be incarcerated at the Colorado State Prison along with previously captured gang members Pinto Joe Weems and Shotgun Sally Fox.Kate says, "Mr. Chumbley must agree with me. Mr. Watkins does more damage to his party than anyone else could. I'm sure you'll find his comments about schooling interesting. I'm not sure how I feel about Pamela Yeats being captured. She lived here when I first came and she and her husband lost their business, then he was killed in the bank robbery after the joined up with the Douglas Gang. I don't think she was a bad person, just desperate and misguided."Mollie says, "I'm just discouraged about the whole election process. Those damned hooded riders seem to be getting exactly what they want. They told that dwarf Vidkin to drop out of the Mayor's race and he did. Then they delivered the same message to others Sunday morning with the use of dynamite, and look at the result. They blew up the Seawells' business and both of them drop out, they blew up the Sherman's store and both of them drop out, they blew up Fly's photo studio and he drops out!And they pinned the blame on the Liberty Party and then skipped town. I don't care for those Liberty Party folks but if Judge Isby thinks they're innocent then I'm inclined to believe him, but I'm sure not everybody will believe that. It just riles me Kate, down south there are a group of hooded riders, they wear white hoods instead of black, who terrorize the former slaves with the same tactics. And that group does it mostly for election intimidate too, to keep those of Ogrish blood from voting.""They didn't get everything they wanted. They threw dynamite into this building and we're still here. And even if it had been destroyed I'd hold class in a field. But I know what you mean. I hadn't thought about how what happened yesterday looks. The Unity and Integrity party were already considering merging to keep from splitting the vote. After what happened to Mr. Avery it seemed like the right time to discuss it.Mr. Fly dropped out because he and his wife will be leaving. She's very embarrassed by what happened during the debate and I don't think he feels he can deny her. I have to remember to go visit them. I don't think I can convince them to chance their minds, but at least they'll know I want them to stay. I'm not exactly sure what those hooded riders want." Meghan says, "Well, if you want to talk to the Flys you had better do it in the next hour. According to a conversation I had will Coolie Fagan last night at Drover's they are leaving today on the 9:00 A.M. stagecoach.""Already? Oh, damn. I'll be back in a few minutes, everything is getting past me. I really want my own faculties back." She hurried past Mollie and a confused looking Meghan over to Fly's Boarding house and knocked on the door. The door is answered by Roger's brother Buck who asks, "May I help you?" She replies, "I'm Mrs. Kale. I was hoping Roger and Janet might still be here?"He says, "They are in the dining room but Ma'am, they aren't expecting any visitors." She states, "I don't imagine they're expecting me, but I'm their neighbor at the school there. I hoped they'd see me before they left. They've been lovely neighbors I'd hate to miss saying goodbye." uck says, "Wait here, I'll check." He returns and says, "Roger says to go in." Kate enters the room. Suitcases are by the door. Roger Fly is wearing a suit. Janet is over in the corner wearing traveling clothes. She looks like she has been crying.Roger stands to greet her and says, "Hello Katherine, I can assure you that I have met with Neil and there will be no interruption to the funding of your school due to my departure." "That's not why I'm here," Kate said offering her hand. "My friends are leaving today, how could I not stop to say goodbye? Of course, I'd far rather hear you'd changed your minds and are staying. I will miss you both very much." She looked over to Janet and said, trying to be light, "Who will help me get along with Beth Eaton?"Janet Fly bursts into tears and says "I...I could never face her again. You're a strong woman Mrs. Kale, you will persevere. I...I'm sorry that I won't be able to continue our riding lessons." Roger says, "We need a fresh start Katherine, somewhere new, you understand that don't you? My brother Buck and his wife Mollie will take over things here in Promise City."Kate squeezed his hand and nodded, then went over and softly embraced Janet Fly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you." She leaned back but kept hold of Janet's hands. "You don't think you're a strong woman too? How are you any less the woman you were a week ago? No one's opinion matters more than your own; that's the bit of wisdom I've learned that keeps me together. That's what will get me through when everyone thinks I got my baby out of wedlock. I know I've lived my life right, and that's enough. And you know you've lived right, and that's enough too.You promise me this. Wherever you go you continue your lessons and you wear whatever you want doing it. Pants or skirt or dress. You do it for yourself." She looked back over to Roger and said, "I'm not sure I do understand. But I don't know your personal business, nor am I entitled to. Neither is anyone else. If you feel your happiness will be better served somewhere else, you should go. But the town will be much the lesser for your leaving."He replies, "My marriage will be better served by our going elsewhere. Right now that is all that matters. If Janet wants us to have a fresh start then we will. So we're going west for that start, I have a friend, mentor actually, named Timothy O'Sullivan. He taught Buck and myself about photography. He apprenticed with Matthew Brady and traveled out west here with the Army Corp of Engineers and photographed the west. Last year he took ill and the physicians back in Washington D.C. said it was non-curable, but he remembered a man he had met, a wood elvan physician who relied on native cures.He is with that healer now in Los Angeles and Mr. O'Sullivan is recovering nicely. He is relocating his studio there from Washington D.C. although most of his present workers do not want to move, so there will be work for me with a man I respect. Janet should be able to find social opportunities within that growing city that do not exist here."Kate nodded and considered an idea. "I can't tell you everything about it, but Maggie Whipple is in Los Angeles. I don't have her permission to give out her address, but if you like I could let her know you are coming. If I had a way to contact you, then I could tell you where to find her if both sides wish it. A familiar face might be nice to see. He says, "I really didn't know her but you can tell her that I will be at the O'Sullivan Photography Studio."Janet interjects "Roger, you are not going to get involved with another saloon!" Kate says, "She's not running a saloon. She's running an upscale restaurant that employs women like myself, who find themselves suddenly alone and in need of employment in order to support themselves." Roger looks over at his wife and says, "Perhaps you should meet with her Janet, you may have more in common than you realize."Kate then asks, “Can I ask one bit of advice before you go?" "Yes, please," he states. She says, "I have news that I must tell the Committee sooner or later, and that everyone will know eventually. I hope it won't affect the school, but it might." She looked at Janet, uncertain how much more to say. "The circumstances are personal, but I find myself in a position to be the mother of a baby in December.” ." Janet's face takes on a shocked expression and she mutters, "Beth will never understand."Kate continues, “I am uncertain when or how much they need to know. And perhaps what kind of reactions I should expect.” Roger thinks for a minute and says, "You should talk to Neil about that, I know that they will be meeting later this week to add the new members. We had mentioned before that Kris Wagner of Wells Fargo was interested in joining, but needed permission from his District Manager. Mr. Williams agreed in principle but was concerned about alienating potential customers who might bring their business instead to the other stagecoach company, Morand Cartage. With my departure that becomes moot, as Zackary Morand will be taking my place making Mr. Wagner now able to take Nile's place on the Committee."Kate nodded. "Thank you. It's not imperative that I start telling people now, there's still time but I'll feel better knowing how to deal with it." She turned back to Janet and asked, "Mrs. Eaton won't understand what? She already knows this, and the particulars, as do you. This may be the one thing she and I won't argue about." Janet burst into tears and says, "She won't understand any of this, my leaving now....she, she said that she would need me to help you with the transition, that I should consider moving next door to your house to help with your pregnancy. I'm abandoning you...and the gods."Kate hugged her again. "Diana didn't lay any tasks at your door, Janet. What transition is there to make beside the usual one that every mother makes? It sounds to me to Mrs. Eaton doesn't quite know how to deal with me and was looking for someone to help bridge the distance. She and I will just have to work out our differences on our own. The gods are everywhere, you aren't abandoning them."Roger says, "No...but perhaps that is a solution. I could go on alone to Los Angeles, spend a short while working for O'Sullivan and establishing a new home for us there. Then you could join me Janet, or alternately, Buck and Mollie could go there then and make it their home and I could return to you here. Janet, if people think you forced me out that would salvage your reputation and either way we would no longer have to cohabitate with my brother and his wife, which Katherine, is the other half of the current problem."Kate nodded. "In-laws can be difficult, especially when they are with you for a long period. Much as you may like them, the disruption of your life and routine and being crowded together can make things unpleasant quickly. I'd be glad to see you stay Janet, I'd be glad of any chance that you'd both stay here in the long run. But I'm not sure I understand where you would stay in the time being, Janet. Surely you'd not want to stay with your in-laws. You mentioned moving?" Janet says, "It's just that Mollie and Buck are very assertive people...since their arrival they've taken over. I couldn't live here with them. Would you have a room? I could do cleaning and cooking for you."Kate paused, a bit shocked. But how would she be able to refuse after all her talk about keeping them here? "I wouldn't ask you to work for your board, but I know if the situation were reversed I wouldn't be comfortable unless I were contributing somehow. I have a room, it will be the baby's once he comes. But you should know Ginnie and I keep rather odd schedules. There will be children downstairs all day, and I go back and forth between the ranch often and am often home late. Also, you should remember those riders tried to destroy the school was well. I'm not trying to scare you off, but I wouldn't want there to be surprises later."Janet says, "You have a house at the ranch too, I could help there as well, I could spend weeknights here and weekends there. Odd hours are fine, I'm used to that. Our tenants here worked for Cassidy Lumber and Wells Fargo, they had to keep odd hours as well. And I'm a very good cook." "We'll work something out," Kate said, unable to resist the woman's obvious desire to stay. Thankfully they didn't keep anything magical in the house in town anyway. "I'm sure everything will be fine, but you'll find the state of our pantry something terrible. We tend to let Dorita feed us. How long do you think you'll stay in Los Angeles, Mr. Fly?"He replies, "That depends largely on Janet, but a few weeks at least to set up a home for either myself or my brother. It's settled then. Could you give us some time alone Katherine? I'll need to be on the stage in a half-hour and would like to spend some the remaining time with Janet since we'll be apart." Kate replies, "Of course, the students will be arriving and I need to be there. Have a pleasant trip, Mr. Fly. I'll see you in a little while, Janet." Kate let herself out quietly and hurried back toward the school."Couldn't just mind your own business," she muttered to herself. She wished for a little of Jake's silver-tongued glibness, just a bit that would have thought of another solution. Not that she was really sorry to help Janet, but it was going to be more difficult to keep the more important secrets.Meghan and Mollie were getting the day started. "I'll be having a houseguest," she said simply.Kate explained very briefly that Janet Fly was going to stay with her for a while, then got down to teaching. Emery Shaw's niece was back again, several of her classmates chattering and laughing around her. There was something just a little magnetic about the girl with the bright-hair. She had scored well enough in Ginnie's exams, in line with someone who had prayed good attention in a standard school. They got Emily into her first grouping and got the day started.Jake Cook manages to get to sleep only to have it interrupted after what appears to be just moments by a loud rapping on the front door below. He glances at his pocket watch to see that it now the ungodly hour of 9:00 A.M., indicating that he has only been asleep for a few hours. A haggard looking Silver Jake Cook appears in the doorway wearing nothing but a pair of trousers he hastily pulled on. Rubbing his bleary eyes he manages so say, "What?"Postmaster Eddie Palmer is standing at the doorway, barely hiding his amusement at having woken Jake up at such an early hour, and says, "Package for you Mr. Cook." He has in his hand a cheaply-made pine box around six-inches square with "Jacob Cook, Fremont Street, Promise City, Arizona Territory" written on the cover in black ink although he does not recognize the handwriting. He notes that the postmark by the stamps reads "New York City"."Since there is niether rain, nor snow here in Arizona I see you have settled for blasted ungodly hour of the morning as the obstacle to avoid delaying your rounds." Jake shakes his head and sighs. "Alright, thank you Mr. Palmer, you may go wake others from their slumber." He watches the postmaster walk away, obviously still enjoying himself. After closing the door he walks to the kitchen and places the box on the table. He eyes it with some trepidation before finally opening it.Packed inside the box is another box, this one elaborately carved on some type of dark wood with the inscription “DA MI BASIA MILLE” on the top of the lid. There are no hinges, the lid carved to sit atop the matching box below. Folded up beside the box is a letter. Even before he unfolds it he recognizes from the ink bleeding through the paper that the note is in Ruby West's handwriting. He slowly unfolds the note to read it.Ruby wrote:Dear Jake,Something very interesting and mysterious happened while I was here. Yesterday while shopping we wandered into this neighborhood I’d never been in before. As we walked the streets something made me look down this narrow alleyway and I saw a little old woman standing there. She was hunched over, and short to boot, a very odd looking woman. She smiled at me and waved me over. It was dark and looked kind of dirty but my curiosity got the best of me. I pulled Jane and Richard down the alleyway and when we got to the end the lady had disappeared.But not really. She was inside this tiny little shop, you had to bow your head and walk down some narrow, crooked stairs to get to it. Inside was dark and dank and cramped. The air was heavy with some kind of incense, but it smelled kind of like Mr. Li’s, if you get my drift.Anyway, she had musty books piled high and really cool looking jewelry, odd paintings and even weird looking instruments strewn everywhere. The lady came up to us and said in some peculiar accent, “Look around, you never know what treasure is meant for you to find here.” Jane and I looked at each other and giggled, then wandered off into our own corners to look for “our” treasure. Richard stood stoically by the door, pretty much what he tried to do for this whole trip so far (We attempted to get him drunk with us but haven’t succeeded yet. He’s a tough nut to crack!).So as I was searching through a particularly dark corner something caught my eye, this old very worn box. I picked it up and on the top was inscribed “DA MI BASIA MILLE”. There seemed to be something very special about this box and as I ran my fingers across the letters I shivered. And it was really odd, because even in that smelly room I swear, as I did that, I could smell you. My most favorite scent in the world, I could never mistake it. I turned around and the little old lady was standing next to me, grinning. And ewww, she was missing some teeth and had horrible breath, let me tell you.She said, “Hair of flame, I read your future.” And at that point I was thinking I should get the Hades out of there but that damn curiosity of mine took over and I let her pull me to the back room. The only thing in the room was a small table with one lit candle on it. So I sat down and she took my hand in hers. I felt silly while she ran her finger over my palm and concentrated. She was taking this very seriously. She stayed like that for a long while, running her gnarly finger over my hand.Finally she looked up at me and said, “You and him are worthy of the magic of the box.” What the heck did that mean? So I asked her and she just pushed the box toward me. I asked what the inscription meant and she said, “Give me a thousand kisses.” While I looked through the inside she explained that the box was very very old and told me the story of the original lovers, one who made the box for the other. I wanted to ask her more questions but when I looked up she was gone. And I mean, gone gone. We don’t know where she went.So I left some of Red’s money, took the box and we left. And last night Jane and I had a bit too much to drink and we got silly (Is that a surprise?). After Jane went to bed I snuck up to the roof with the box and sat under the stars for a while. I had been wondering why you didn’t try to contact me in Tucson. I guess in a way I was hoping you would. But that wasn’t very fair to you I suppose. Anyway, I sat under the stars and thought of you. And then I did something even sillier. I opened the box and put a thousand kisses in it. Well, maybe not a thousand, but a lot! And now I’m sending it to you and those kisses will have to do until we’re together again. I hope you have a thousand kisses saved up for me!I don’t want to ruin the mood but I find myself thinking about something else, and I need to not keep it from you. So you aren’t surprised and can be prepared although I think you already are, more than me for certain. I do not believe Colin Turner to be dead. I know that we were hoping he was dead and I really did think he was in Thomasville, and was very pleased about that. But now that time has gone by that odd feeling, that connection, isn’t totally gone. I will not be shocked to see him again. But this time we will be ready for him, right?I want you to know, I am no longer afraid Jake, no longer frightened of all the things that could happen. Time away from Promise City has done some good for me, and talking with Jane, and Red, and my grandmother, and even this silly little box, it all has meaning. And I’m finally learning to deal with it. And realize that as many times as I have said it, I can truly say now that I mean it with all my heart.Please tell Kate and Chester and Minerva I said hello and miss them terribly. Most especially Kate. Tell her she is the best friend I ever had and I miss being able to talk to her. And tell her I said I hope things are going well with the baby. I am sending something to her for the baby, I hope she likes it. I wonder if Nanuet has returned? But I miss all of them and feel bad for leaving when I did. Also Job, Harry and anyone else I missed.But mostly you of course. I miss your warmth, your kisses, your arms around me. I miss wrapping myself around you as we sleep. I hate sleeping alone now. Sleeping next to Jane is just not the same!Always Yours,XOXO Ruby XOXOJake places the note back on the table and folds it over to hide the writing. He quietly stares at the box, his lips a thin straight line. An unknown amount of time passes before he finally reaches a tentative hand to the box to remove the lid. Inside the box is an old worn and faded piece of parchment. Written on it are the words:VIVAMUS, atque amemus,rumoresque senum seueriorumomnes unius aestimemus assis!soles occidere et redire possunt:nobis cum semel occidit breuis lux,nox est perpetua una dormienda.da mi basia mille, deinde centum,dein mille altera, dein secunda centum,deinde usque altera mille, deinde centum.dein, cum milia multa fecerimus,conturbabimus illa, ne sciamus,aut ne quis malus inuidere possit,cum tantum sciat esse basiorum.Jake grimaces and the word come unbidden to his lips, "Latin." Memories flood back from home, working in his fathers business. He could not really read Latin, but he knew some words. Enough to think it was Latin. With his finger under the word mille he says, "Thousand. Yes, must be the thousand kisses." Jake shakes his head and returns the note to the box and closes the lid. Another man would have been thrilled to receive such a letter. Jake wrestled with mixed emotions and finally decided to go back to bed. After another hour of fitful sleep, he rises, dresses and decides to head over to the Lucky Lady.</blockquote>

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