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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3477672" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter One-hundred-fifty-five, “Returning to Town, “Wednesday June 14th, 1882, 8:45 P.M. Inside, Kate was near the bottom of the bowl of soup when there were finally noises coming from outside.  She went to the window and looked out, barely able to make out the shapes of riders.  She waited for them to come to the door or to hear a familiar voice. "Katherine!"  Jake calls out.  "Is everything well?" Kate let out a long breath and threw open the window.  "We're all here, safe.  We got the picture.  Is it done?" "No, not done." Minerva says helping the Bishop through the door. "The numbers don't add up. We think there may be more out there." Kate turned and looked at Messier.  "Mr. Messier, I thought as one Frenchman to another you'd have been honest with us.  And if you were, I think you'd best start making some educated guesses at where some of those night creatures may have gone." Messier says, "I have been honest with you."  He then gestures towards Miller and says, "Maybe we should discuss this elsewhere?  Or maybe have him go outside for a few minutes?" Kate says, "Father Harbrace, would you mind taking Mr. Miller outside?" Jake takes a moment to look about outside, looking for anything unusual or signs of others about or watching them. Outside looks to be clear.   Harbrace offers to escort Mr. Miller outside, saying it is better to keep Mr. Wicks as contained as much as possible. "There's soup on the stove.  It's not good, but it won't kill you," Kate said as the others came back inside.  "How did it not match what you expected?" Once Miller is gone Wicks/Messier turns towards Jake and says, "I told you the truth to the best of my knowledge, the Bishop here confirmed it.  I had not been at that cave since yesterday, so things could have been changed since then." Jake replies, "You are in this with us now.  If Turner finds out that you helped us, your previous value means nothing."   Jake describes what they found.  "So, where are the other fledglings?" Messier replies, He replies, "Fledglings?  You mean new vampires?  Four of them should have been there, Ray Cunningham, Guerin, the ogre and the human worker.   They were all there when I left, plus the caskets that belonged to Decker and that Turner's European friend who you eliminated this morning."     The Bishop says, "That Ogre who we rescued rode back with us.  Maybe he knows where the other two may have gone to." Jake says, "Seems like a good idea.  Katherine, want to try that?" "I don't think you need my permission, Jake," she teased.  "Sorry, I'm tired and getting just a bit silly. Did you leave him outside?  I'll take some of my soup out and have a talk with him." Jake says, "That was what I had in mind." Kate left the door open behind her as she went out with the soup.  "Sorry, it's not very good.  Filling though. I know it's not easy to talk about, but we want to make sure no one else goes through what you did.  My friends had expected to find two more creatures in the mine.  Do you know where they went?" The Ogre named Copernicus is a bit slow witted and rambles for a while.  Kate has to keep prompting.  After around two or three minutes she finally manages to get the comment that  "One of 'em, the one with the face of the dead guy in the pine box, came last night and took away Joey's body and a sack full of dirt." She says, "Thank you.  Did anyone take any of the others away?" The ogre replies, "Only Simon, Ray's son.  They dragged him off three night's ago.  He was a good boy." Kate patted his arm.  "Simon is fine.  Someone rescued him and brought him into town.  You go ahead and eat that, alright?" She went back inside to the others.  "He said the one wearing Guerin's face came in and took Joey's body away along with a bag of soil.  The only other thing he knew was that they'd dragged Simon off three nights ago." Jake says, "That is still one short.  Mierde.  Now what?" Tomlinson says, "Okay, so now there would be three of them then. This Joey would have just awakened tonight, around an hour ago. Wicks is wearing Guerin's face and running for Town Council. And the third is Mortimer Turner." Kate asks, "What can we do but keep following the trail we already know of?” Jake says, "Nothing except to go back to town, unless we are going to search all these mines again." Kate states, "The mines are a needle in a haystack right now. We know there are creatures in town, and they're the ones that seem to be in charge. I say back to town." Minerva states, "We should hurry back to town. The people are in danger." Jake says, "Let us go then." Minerva offers to help Costa out to the horses. Kate points out "There is still the matter of Mr. Miller and Mr. Messier. Mr. Tomlinson, since you're the closest thing to the law we have here how do you want to deal with them?" Messier says, "Hold on a minute, I'm not going anywhere, especially not back to Promise City with you guys. Turner sees me with you I'm as good as dead." Kate says, "I don't think anyone suggested you coming along, Mr. Messier. The Bishop is still in rough shape. Perhaps we should leave some here to keep an eye on Mr. Messier and Mr. Miller." John Harbrace says, "I'll stay with him. We'll head back up to Dos Cabezas in the morning. It's closer and his friend Father Barnes is there now. We'll bring Messier with us too." "Thank you, Father." Kate stepped over to the Bishop and thanked him again for his help and wishing him a speedy recovery. She went out to the others and got Meribel. "Let's go home," she said. The group of Jake Cook, Katherine Kale, Minerva Florencia, Nakomo, Jonathan Harker and Kevin Tomlinson ride back to town together. They reach Promise City at 9:45 P.M. It appears to be a rather quiet Wednesday night, with few people out and about. Once they are back near town and it is light enough, Kate hands around the picture she got from Messier. Tomlinson says, "I've seen this before. Not the person, but this portait." He pauses for a minute and says, "A larger version of this same photograph is hanging on the wall of the Territorial Offices in Prescott." Kate states, "Not the Territorial Governor?" Tomlinson says, "No, I've met the current Governor, it isn't him." She comments, "That's a relief, at least.” She asks, "Would the debate be over yet? One of them was running for Sherrif, wasn't he?" Tomlinson says, "No, Guerin is running for Town Council. The Marshall's debate would have ended around an hour ago." Kate says, “We need to find Palmer as soon as possible. Do we know where the Cowboys tend to congregate now?" Tomlinson says, "Yes, over at the Liberty Party Headquarters next to Fisk's house, except for that Daniel Madson, his hardware and taxidermy shop is up on the corner of Sierra and Front." Jake says, "We need to find Chet and tell him." Turning to Tomlinson, "No idea what the name of this person is in the picture? Must be someone important to be on the wall of the territorial office." Jake gets a glance at the photograph and immediately recognizes him, having met the man at the Three Gods Meeting Hall in Tucson on the last Saturday in may. He doesn't recall the man's name offhand but believes him to be some sort of politician. "I may have played poker with this guy, but I do not remember his name." Jake shrugs. "I guess I will know him when I see him. I will go find Chet." Kate watched her friend ride away, then turned back to Mr. Tomlinson. "Should we start with the Taxidermy shop? It will be private at least. I hate the idea of publicly having to take on one of these things. It could get very ugly, very fast." Tomlinson replies, "I'm not sure that we have enough information to be breaking into a business at this hour of the night. If we're wrong they could bring us up on charges, or for that matter, just start shooting with legitimate reason as we would appear to be intruders." Kate says, "I wasn't so much thinking of breaking and entering as I was of knocking on the door and seeing if he was there. I suppose that isn't wise either. That leaves the party headquarters, where no one who isn't a party member is allowed. Unless you are as part of those running the elections?" Tomlinson says, "The real question is whether we should act tonight or wait until we have more information. The time constraint before was the rising of the new vampires, and we've stopped all but one, who would have already risen by now. And we know that these creatures are impersonating candidates for office, so stay for-the-most-part where they are now for the next week. Kate says, "It's going to be messy no matter when we take them. The disappearance of candidates or newly elected councilmen won't go unnoticed. I'm not sure how much more information there is to find, but you're right, the time issue isn't as pressing. I still don't like the idea of these things free to make more, but you'd know better than I would. I can't say I'd be adverse to getting back to my own life for tonight." Minerva and Nakomo are quietly listening to the conversation. Minerva interupts when she hears Thomlinson suggest that they wait until morning. "I disagree! Time is of the essence. Every night this evil is allowed to roam the streets another unsuspecting soul is taken and their numbers multiply." she stops a look of shocked revelation on her face. "By the gods, we haven't even warned them that they are in danger!" she says angrily. "If we are going to let this evil continue we should at least warn the people. Meirde! It is like sending lambs to the slaughter." Tomlinson says, "What do you suggest then Priestess? John Harbrace and Bishop Papandraius are not with us. It has been a long day for the rest of us and those creatures are active at night. Wouldn't it be better to go investigate those places in the light of day when we could have justifiable and rational reasons to explain our presence?" She replies, "I know we are weak! and I know that telling the people could start a panic, but not telling them could cost them their lives.... and I cannot just go to bed to 'sleep on it.' Nakomo and I will at least keep watch over the Liberty Party headquarters and I will ask Luna to watch from the skies over the town." " Argh! I apologize for my outburst. I know you are doing your best, but as you have said We are all tired and it is so frustrating!" Tomlinson replies, "Indeed. I believe Mr. Cook was going to go speak to your Deputy friend. His assistance will greatly help as he is a law enforcement officer of this town. If he decides to act tonight instead of waiting until tomorrow then I will accompany you, otherwise we should delay further action until morning." I will see you later then" She thinks to herself, “I do not see how waiting for the law to give us permission will make us safer.“ She turns to Nakomo. "Why don't you go and find Sr. Jake and the Deputy. I am going home to get cleaned up and rest a bit. Luna, Por Favor, Patrol the town from the air tonight and let me know if we are needed." "Buenos Nochas, Katherine. Get some rest yourself." "I understand your anxiety," Kate said, "I want this to be finished and I don't like the idea of leaving these creatures able to make more. But I am not sure how much longer I can continue. I am not really fully recovered and getting killed because fatigue dulls my thinking won't help anyone. I do have some things to do before I can sleep, so even if Deputy Martin decides to wait I can keep my eyes open for the man in the photograph. Don't worry, I'll find my own bed soon enough." The weary priestess heads for home, passing by the Liberty Party headquarters on her way. She walks around the building and listens for any activity within as she does so. There are lights on at the Liberty Party headquarters building and also in Fisk's house adjacent to it, but both buildings appear quiet. She sees Deputy Sheriff Dave Nagel guarding the front door and taking an occasional patrol around the building. Time passed as Kate, Nakomo, Tomlinson and Harker waited for Jake to return and Kate found herself dozing on Meribel's back. "Gentlemen, would you mind if I just ran my errand now while we wait. If I'm not back when Jake and Chester return you could find me at the Long Branch." Tomlinson says, "Actually, I need to head over to the Territorial Offices to fill the Judge in on what we heard about Palmer. You can catch up with me there if you decide to go this evening. Kate looked over at Nakomo and Mr. Harker, feeling just a little guilty to leave them there. "Hopefully Jake won't be long; I'll get back as soon as I can." Kate nudged Meribel's flanks and took the short ride to the Long Branch. If she was lucky Conrad would be on a break. She tied the reins to an empty hitching post and stepped inside, suddenly aware she was still in her riding clothes and covered in road dust. Nakomo departs for home. When he arrives Minerva is asleep on the couch. He looks down upon her with affection and pulling a colorful quilt over her, extinguishes the lights and drags a chair up to the window where he sits and whittles while watching the Liberty Party headquarters. Thoughts of the day run through his mind causing a myriad of emotions to pass over his face. A smile curves his lips as he scrapes the wood. "I handled myself well. Mr. Jake even said so. Boy he can sure handle a gun. I will be as good as him one day." But his joy quickly turns to dismay "I need to practice more with my bow first. I missed with Diana's arrow when others were counting on me and people could have died. Mrs. Kale almost did. Now there are more out there and I am out an arrow. I will be more careful before wasting another. He looks into the night sky and whispers "Diana, goddess of the hunt, lead me to the evil beasts and hold my arrow true. and please keep my family safe." he says looking over to where Minerva is sleeping. Jake had arrived at the Marshal’s Office. The only one there is Mitchell Berg. He says, "Hi Jake, you missed the debate. Chet did alright although he walked into a trap that the Freedom and Liberty party candidates laid out for him. They made the grand gesture of offering to withdraw from the race and throwing their support behind his candidacy if he would only blame me for everything that's gone wrong. Most men would have taken that offer, but Chet has too much integrity, which I'm sure they knew. He fully supported me and my actions and may have cost himself the election in the process." Jake says, "There is still time for him to get himself elected. All the cards have not been played yet. Are you going to come out in support of him or are you going to stay neutral in all this?" Berg replies "I support him completely, but while his opponents keep reiterating how people keep getting murdered, buildings keep getting blown up, and prisoners keep using magic to escape from jail my endorsement does him more harm than good." Jake laughs, "That is exactly how I feel! Only for different reasons." Jake laughs some more before shaking his head and lets out a long sigh. "I have things to tell him. If you see him and he still has not found me, have him try the Lady and then my house. Good night Marshall." Jake heads over to the Lucky Lady next. Kate enters the Long Branch Saloon. Conrad is indeed there but it busy with a table full of players. She is certain he saw her enter. "Mrs. Kale, please join us," a familiar sounding voice rings out. She turns to see Little Joe Cartwright, a Nevada rancher who she last saw in January, sitting at a table with three more men, one a younger man in his early twenties, the others appear to be in their forties to fifties. Kate put a smile on her face and crossed the floor to join the men. "Mr. Cartwright," she said, offering her hand. "I'm sorry I'm not properly dressed. When did you arrive?" Joe laughs and says, "No properly dressed? We're ranchers, you're wearing the right uniform. Mrs. Kale, let me introduce you to three of the other folks who keep the Ponderosa Ranch running." He gestures to the two older men and says, "This is 'Candy' Canaday and Dusty Rhoades." He then points to the younger man and says, "And this is my stepbrother Jamie Hunter Cartwright." Kate shook hands around the table and took a seat. "A pleasure to meet you all. I hope your father and brothers are all well. What brings you this time? Not more cattle rustled, I hope." He replies, "Emery Shaw asked us to come, he said that there was some dissention in the ranks among his new Cattleman's Association, that two of the ranches pulled out and he felt protection was needed for his remaining ranches. Of course, none of that prepared us for the surprise encounter we ran into tonight." Kate sat up straighter. "Surprise encounter? What happened? None of the ranches were attached, I hope?" Joe replies, "Oh no, nothing like that. Do you remember the history that we told Geronimo in January, about our encounter with Cochise twenty years go. An Army Captain had called for a peace treaty with the Apache but instead attempted to poison them, killing most of the Indians. Cochise sought revenge and the Army Captain came to us for protection, my brother Adam getting shot in the process. But Father insisted on hearing both sides and truth came out. The Captain was courts-marshaled out and removed from the service. He was the one we saw, Moss Johnson, up on stage of town hall for the debates. The man is here now and running for Town Marshall, using his own warped version of history with the Apache as his credentials for office." Kate states, "Then I know just the man you ought to see. Mr. Chumbley down at the newspaper office would be very interested in hearing what you have to say, as would the rest of the town. The last thing we need is a man like that for our Marshall. Just after you left last time there was a misunderstanding with the Apache where both side had thought the other had broken the treaty. My friends and I had to move very fast to keep it from boiling over." Joe says, "Well then, we should probably go and visit this Mr. Chumbley before he finishes writing up the account of tonight's debate." Kate says, "I think you can at least finish your drinks first, but I wouldn't wait long. I'm often amazed how fast he is. Did Mr. Shaw say what he thought the ranches might need protection from?" Joe says, "He said that he heard that some rustlers were watching a few of the ranches and then one of those ranches got half their herd rustled. He helped us out in January so we decided to return the favor." The younger man adds, "And Joe told me how pretty those daughters of Shaw's were so I thought I'd come and see first hand." Kate replies, "Those rustlers were watching my place too, but I think we moved fast enough to get some extra people there and all the animals branded that the rustlers went looking for easier pickings." She turned to Jamie and added, "I've only met Mr. Shaw's daughters a couple times, but I can say they are pretty. And spirited, so I hope you like strong-willed, independent women," she laughed. "He's got his niece living with him here in town now, and she's quite lovely as well. The boys at my school are having trouble keeping their eyes on their books." Joe laughs and says, "Shaw said before that he was concerned about the men around here being after his daughters just for his money. Pa has had the same reservations about some of the Virginia City gals and their interest in Jamie here. Sounds like this might be able to work." "A good place to start anyway," Kate laughed. "Don't get too set though, I'm sure those ladies already have some ideas of their own. And follow your instincts. Not every girl who is interested is only interested in the money. My family was worried when I first met my late husband, but he convinced Papa that he wasn't interested in money. To the day he died he never took a cent of Seagram money, even when Papa tried to give it to him."</blockquote>

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