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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3512986" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter One-hundred-sixty, “Afternoon Meeting”, Thursday June 15th, 1882, 12:30 P.M. Kate asked Mollie to help her carry the crate into the kitchen while Meghan called the children back inside. "I think it's time to tell Meghan," Kate sighed. "It's three months soon. In another month anyone who know what to look for is going to have it figured out. I'm getting tired of breaking this news to people. At least it's just Meghan and the committee left." Mollie says, "Yes, but it would probably be best to break this to her at a time other than a school day, as we don't know what her reaction will be." Kate nodded. "I didn't really mean today. This weekend, sometime. I hope she won't... I don't want to lose her respect. But that's for later. Today there is teaching to do." She led the other woman back out into the room full of chattering children to get started with the afternoon's lessons. The children get back into their assigned groups and continue their afternoon lessons. At the Marshal’s Office, Berg tells Chester “I sincerely hope the rest of those riders were Galeyville people. It was shocking enough to discover that Mr. Snavely was mixed up in this I would hate to think that six more of the town's citizens are part of this too." Chester replies, "Hate it if you want, but I doubt all of these riders are from out of town. Some of them must be local, or else people would start noticing strangers here." At around 1:00 P.M. there is a knock on the door. Meghan answers it and then comes back to Kate saying, "Your friend Conrad is outside. He wishes to speak to you." "Thank you, Meghan. I hope nothing's wrong, I can't imagine why he'd be here now. I'll be back in a minute." The children where already studying independently with Kate there just to answer their questions. She nodded to Ginnie then hurried outside. "Is something wrong?" she asked. A smile fills his face and he says, "No my dear, everything is right. My father's stagecoach arrived early. He and his traveling companions are over at the Promise City Hotel right now checking in and getting a bite to eat. We chatted briefly and he asked about you. I mentioned that you were teaching and described your school. He says he would like to stop by and see either this afternoon or tomorrow. Would you class be interested in having a visit by a world renowned Shakespearian actor?" "Of course we would! But tomorrow, we're not prepared today. How did you find out he arrived early? You weren't waiting at the station already, were you?" she teased. Conrad replies, "Don't be silly, I paid Coolie Fagan to notify me when it arrived. Tomorrow will be fine." She asks, "And how did your meeting go? There were others there so he can't have said anything too personal. Did he ask you about the play? I'm surprised he thought to ask about me at all." Conrad replies, "We didn't talk too long, they wanted to get settled in. He was curious why you weren't with me which is why he asked." She replies, "That's quite an assumption he was making about the two of us, thinking we would be together. Are we that obvious?" Her hand was halfway over reaching for his before she realized she was standing in front of the school in broad daylight. "Our plans are changed now. Did you still want to see me after school? And shouldn't there be a rehearsal today?" He says, "Yes, I was so concerned about my father's arrival that it had slipped my mind. We are rehearsing at the Gay Lady from 3:00 to 5:40 P.M. I could join you for dinner afterwards if you would like." Kate nodded. "That sounds lovely. But don't be afraid to let me know if you want to spend the time with your father instead. He won't be here that long.” He replies, “I offered but he said he was going to have dinner with his traveling companions. He says he may stop by the Long Branch Saloon later this evening.” She says, “I got a gift from Ruby today, from New York. A sweet little cradle and a little stuffed bear toy. Seems everything good comes from New York today." He answers, "Indeed, well I find my last visit there to be very memorable, and not just due to my meeting with the famous Edwin Booth." Kate smiled and looked down for a moment. When she looked back up she said, "You'd better go before I do something completely inappropriate on a public street for schoolchildren to see." Jake is back at the lady for around ten minutes when he is approached by Job Kane. "Hey Jake, some of our regular players want to have a special poker game tonight. They're all interested in playing in the tournament this weekend but the three grand admission is too rich for their blood, so they want to do a winner-take-all game each putting in whatever amount is needed for the full combined total. The dealer will get a flat amount for the game. Are you interested in dealing?" Jake thinks for a minute and then smiles. "Yes. I would enjoy that. I especially like getting another of our regulars in the tournament. I am in." Job says, "Good, I'll let them know. So far it's Henry Weller, Neil Cassidy Helen Barker and Al Brower, but they may find one or two more by game time." Just before 2:00 Nakomo raises his hand to get Kate’s attention. They walk outside and he tells her about the vampires in the caskets at the taxidermy shop. "You could have told me a little earlier," she told the young man lightly. Kate was feeling increasingly guilty about leaving the school to Meghan and Mollie, but Nakomo's message couldn't be ignored so shortly before two she and Nakomo left for the Lucky Lady. She wished there was some way to explain that what she had to do was important, and hopefully temporary. She preceded Nakomo into the saloon, then went to the bar and got herself a glass of water before finding a table to await the arrival of the others. Just before two, Minerva finishes collecting the money from the church poor boxes and strolls briskly to the Lucky Lady for the meeting. When Minerva walked in she waved her over to the table where Kate and Nakomo were waiting. "We've had a bit of luck?" she asked when the Priestess had found her way over. Minerva replies, "Si, It would seem that Hermes's favors us. Did Nakomo tell you about the caskets at the taxidermist shop?" Kate quickly made the table private, there were few patrons to see and she made sure none were watching them first. "But there were two walking around in the day, but they seemed to show evil as well? I wonder if they are mind controlled." Minerva shrugs her shoulders. "It is possible. If they are under the vampires influence, it should cease once we destroy the vampires. " Kate says, "It will also make it that much harder to get to them. We'll want to avoid hurting them if possible. Are Mr. Tomlinson and Mr. Harker coming? And where are Jake and Chester?" Minerva replies, "They should be here soon. We should order some food while we wait. I am sure that Nakomo is starving." she says looking at her willowy charge affectionately. I am unsure if it because he is a teenager or if it is an elf thing, but he seems to eat all the time. Nanuet is the same way. They treat every meal as though it were the last one they will ever eat." "It's entirely possible it's just a family thing," Kate smiled. Nakomo excuses himself to go see about Deputy Martin. Nakomo stops by the Marshall's office a little after two. He knocks on the door and is let in by Eduardo. "Good afternoon. I'd like to speak to Deputy Martin, please." Berg nods and says, "That's fine, Chet. Go ahead." Chester follows Nakomo to the porch. "What is it, Nakomo?" The young elf says, "We're having a meeting at the Lucky Lady about the nightwalkers." "Nightwalkers? Oh, right. I'll be there in a few minutes. Thanks." Nakomo leaves and Chester walks back into the office. "Mitch, there's something I need to take care of now." Berg replies, "Actually I think we're done for now here. Go on." Chester makes his way to the Lucky Lady. He spots the others at the table and takes a seat saying, "Afternoon folks. What's going on?" Kate let Minerva and Nakomo fill him in since all her knowledge was secondhand. "Seems they've been hiding in plain sight. Which means we have to figure out how we're going in there and getting rid of them in plain sight. I'd say we should avoid making it too complicated. After all, there aren't really any innocents there. If the two are mind-controlled, they'll be happy they were released after it's over." Jonathan Harker arrives soon. He says, "Kevin won't be able to join us, he's off on an errand with the Judge. I trust that the Priestess has informed the rest of you to our discovery this morning." Kate says, "Yes. We were discussing the possibility that the men you talked to are influenced. And the difficulties of going in there during business hours and in plain sight." Chester suggests, "Maybe we can pretend to be buying coffins and try to open the ones with the vampires inside." Minerva replies, "The vampires are in the coffins on the bottom. They are also surrounded by other coffins. I do not see how we could discretely get to the ones that the vampires are in. I think that we will have to forcefully restrain their guardians.” Late says, "Minerva's right. We'll want to come inside on some pretext, and perhaps get next to the coffins, but after that there's no hiding what we're there to do. And the sooner the better. I think we all have things we'd rather do tonight than chase these monsters." Chester adds, "Not to mention they'd have the high ground at night, so to speak. Any ideas on how to get them out of the way without hurting them. Me holding a gun on them would not look good in the papers." Kate suggests, "Nanuet once caused a man to stand as if frozen for a few moments. Is that something you could do, Minerva?" She replies, "I could try. The gods may see fit to grant me this gift in our time of need but we should have another plan just in case..." Kate looked at the others. "I don't think we want to over plan here. Once we get inside any plan we've made is likely to go astray. I'd say we're best off to make sure we have everyone we can gather, all our useful tools, and go." Chester says, "We have the element of surprise, so we should strike fast." Kate asks, "Mr. Harker, you and Minerva were inside earlier. Would it be possible for just one or two to go inside and then the others come in another way to take advantage of surprise? Could we perhaps get influenced ones outside somehow?" Harker gives her a detailed description of the room. Minerva states, "I have a bullet that I believe came from the cowboy gang that will induce sleep once introduced into the blood steam. It fits, they fit a double-action Derringer. Did Jake give any of them to you, Katherine? Of course if we use them they will make a little noise but it's such a small gun we could cover up the sound." Kate answers, "He did, I'd completely forgotten about them. Let's try the quieter methods first, if they don't work we can fall back to the sleep bullets. I have a couple quiet things I can try first as well. Do we have any of those incendiary rounds without Jake here? These two aren't sitting in soil, if they dissipate into mist to escape they can survive since this is their home ground." Minerva replies, "I could ask the gods to favor us with silence, by doing so even if there is a scuffle no one will hear it.. of course that has it's own complications." she looks to Kate meaningfully. “:f we attack midday, will they not be sleeping? I believe that I am one of the strongest, present. Chester and I could then either drive a stake into them or behead them." Nakomo speaks up, "I am not very strong, but the gods favor me also. You could ask the gods to protect you from evil and I will petition them to do the same for Deputy Martin. and don't forget I have the arrows. We don't need to get close to destroy them, we only have to raise the lid." Kate says, "I'm not sure they sleep so deeply that they won't wake when things start happening. The quiet would be good for that as well, even with its difficulties. Would there be an area of the room unaffected by the spell, or could it be created that way to leave a corner free?” Minerva replies, Once the gods have answered my prayer sound will be stifled within a fifteen-foot radius around me. Senor Harkins, what did you say you estimated the size of the room to be?" Kate asks, “Nakomo, do you have enough arrows left? I understand it was very effective." Nakomo replies. "I have one arrow left and Father Harbrace should have three unless he has spent them. I will ask Diana for divine favor before we enter the building to be sure that my aim is true this time." Minerva interjects. "It is not wise to ask the gods for too many boons in one day, Nakomo. They can be fickle and if you ask them to protect Chester from the evil that confronts us the gods may choose to ignore your prayer to guide your hand. The arrows are precious. We should save them for a time of dire need. Do not spend them unless we are unable to dispose of he abominations by more ordinary means." Minerva asks, "will Senor Harbrace be back in time to assist us with our task?" Kate says, "Father Harbrace is in Dos Cabazes caring for the Bishop, so must be prepared to destroy at least one of them by mundane means. A nice sunny corner that isn't quiet would do just fine for me. I'm sorry, but I cannot risk letting one of them touch me again. Diana has laid a task on me as well and I can't perform it if I am killed." Minerva replies, “I agree that you should not put yourself in harms way again. Perhaps you could stay outside and guard the door against intruders. After all we are going to do this thing during business hours and we wouldn't want anyone walking in off the street before our task is finished. So if all are in agreement this is what we will do. Hopefully the gods will give Chester and myself protection from this evil before we enter the shop. I will also ask them to silence the area and we will attempt to put the guardians to sleep with bullets, failing that, we will just have to bop them on the head. Once they are subdued we check for traps, move the caskets that are on top of the vampires caskets, open the lids and dispose of them. Sounds simple enough don't you think? Minerva says with a crooked grin. She looks toward the door. "I wonder what is keeping Jake? I do not want to wait much longer but our chances of success would multiply greatly if we were all here for this." Kate nodded her agreement. "Simple is best. A complicated plan falls apart faster. I can't shoot from the doorway, so I'll give you my sleep bullets just in case you need them." Jake and big Thom come in the front door of the Lucky Lady. Thom is carrying a trunk while Jake is carrying a much lighter canvas bag. Jake waves at the table of his friends and then guides Thom up the stairs. Not more than a few minutes later he is back down, thanks Thom and sends him on his way. Approaching the table, Jake eyes them suspiciously. He stands next to Katherine and says, "What a sorry, mirthless bunch of worry laden leading citizens. I surely trust that once this town is cleaned up it will have all been worthwhile and there will be some joy in this hole of a town." He gives them a smirk, "In the mean time, I will just have a drink. Anyone else interested?" Kate reached back and touched Jake's arm with a smile. "Hardly leading citizens. More like the power in the shadows, stealthily protecting the citizens of Promise City from that which goes bump in the night, never receiving the thanks or the glory so richly deserved. Some of those things had the good manners to hide where we can find them during the day, we were just discussing dispatching them so we can all enjoy our evening." Jake answers, "Glory is vastly overrated, if you ask me. Have a care about which shadows you hide in while exerting your power." Jake grins and glances around at them. "As the most unlikely and completely unofficial spokesman for the fine citizens of Promise City allow me to extend to you our most gracious and richly deserved thanks. There, all better now. So, what are you planning and why are you still sitting here?" Kate says, "We're waiting for you. Minerva sent out the word earlier today to meet here at two o'clock. You obviously never got it. Madsen's Hardware and Taxidermy is hiding a couple vampires, but we suspect the two men working there are influenced." Kate outlined their plan quickly. "We thought we ought to keep it simple." Jake shrugs, "Waiting for me? Thanks, you know how I get when I feel left out." He looks shrewdly at Katherine while scratching his beard. He leans over and says quietly in her ear, "Do you remember the cuff links that would lock a mans hands together? Do you know the command that makes them work?" Kate replies, "I remember them; you should have them locked up somewhere. I don't know the command word myself, but Ginnie would be able to help with that." Jonathan Harker says, "I may be able to offer some help with the two gentlemen as well. If they are under magical influence I have a smoke device that creates a cloud which dispels that. Unfortunately it would also negate any of the Priestess's clerical magic as well." Kate asks, "How long would it take for the cloud to dissipate? Would its effects on the men last even after it does? If we could get them outside so you could use it there and our clerical magics would still work that would be ideal." Harker replies, "Inside of a closed building it would take a while, so other magics might not work." Kate says, "Every time we've managed to destroy these creatures it has been because we used magical means. We could use the smoke and then just wait for it to dissipate. It's not like the creatures can leave the building in the daylight. I also wonder, the mist form they take when they want to run away, can that form tolerate sunlight or are they truly trapped in the store? "I bet I could help you get those cuff links on one of the men," Jake replies with a twinkle in his eye, "if you can get them to work. Otherwise, if they are truly under that control of those things the only way I know how to keep them from being a problem is to put a gun in their face or worse." Jake shrugs. "If you are going to use preternatural means to combat them, just tell me how you want me to help." Jake fishes out a bullet from a leather container in a buttoned pocket and exchanges it for one in his long barreled Colt muttering, "...in case things get ugly." Kate interjects, "Sounds like a good way to get them outside so we don't have the smoke in the building. Sounds like maybe Jake goes inside with Chester or Minerva perhaps? They try to get them outside, using the cufflinks if necessary. If they don't come out fairly quickly, the rest of us enter and Mr. Harker uses his smoke in the room? How does that sound?" Jake states, "Katherine, you wound me to the heart. Using the cuff links if necessary? The cuff links are the most clever part of the plan, almost sublime. And the best part, my good Mrs. Kale, is that you will get one of those poor unfortunates to put them on. Yes, of course I will be helping a might." He gives her a wink. "Then we will go in and take care of the second one." Jake offers Katherine a hand to rise out of the chair. "And by we, I mean poor Jake the monster bait, along with whomever else is fool like he is. Otherwise, I like the plan. It is elegant in its simplicity. Let me tell you my idea about the cuff links while we go get them. We can meet the others outside Madsen's place." As you like," Kate said, looking a bit bewildered by the torrent of words but willing to go along. "Simple was the idea, complicated just falls apart faster." She nodded to the others. "We'll see you in a few minutes." As they walked, Kate said, "I'm sorry to make you monster bait, but I just can't risk going myself. After what happened Tuesday... You understand. Now, oh ye of the loquacious tongue, what is going on in your brain?" "Are you up for a bit of acting?" Jake nods not waiting for her to say yes. "Imagine if Katherine was admiring Jake's cuff links," he points to where it would be if he was indeed wearing his silver spade links. "Jake says something like, its not every man who knows how to wear them properly. Anyway," Jake continues to walk at a brisk pace, "one thing leads to another and Jake manages to finagle Katherine into taking a bet that she later regrets. Especially since Jake, through some trickery with words, gets to pick the victim. You play the part of the put upon widow woman, and Jake plays the part of the scoundrel. A part may I add that I have some practice with, but I digress." They reach his house. "So it really is quite simple in a complicated way," he smirks again. "I pretend to pick a man who I feel is unlikely to be smart or cultured enough to know how to wear cuff links, and you draw upon his sympathies to win the bet. Between my implied insult and your stroking of his ego, he is very likely to come outside and put the cuff links on. If that does not work then offer him half the bet if he succeeds. I manage to get his arms around something outside like the hitching post and you lock the cuffs. If that does not work then it is your plan all the way." Wait here a moment," He rushes inside without giving her time to reply. Five minutes later, he is back outside. He is wearing a white shirt with his silver cufflinks and a trademark grin. He quickly shows her the other cufflinks and then drops them in his pocket. "I am certain you will be pleased to know I left the dynamite here this time. Ready? Monster bait is." Kate says, "We'll have to stop by the school and talk to Ginnie. And I think a different dress is in order. It does depend just a bit on my appearance, after all. The only thing I don't understand is how we get the man to come outside to try them?" Jake says, "Heh, well that part requires you to go in and get him while I stand in the door way with the cuff links. If he does not wish to come out, the scoundrel outside says, 'see I told you he would not know how to do it.' Besides the light is better outside, or whatever. After that, you STAY outside." She answers, "I'm not going to argue with you about that. Having the life pulled from me is not an experience I want to repeat. I did a few silly things like this in school, I think I can remember how it went." They entered her house from the kitchen door. Kate peeked into the schoolroom and motioned for Ginnie to join them. They handed the girl the cufflinks and once the curtains were closed Ginnie cast a part of the spell Kate had not yet learned. While Ginnie did her work Kate ran upstairs and but on a less demure gown than the one she'd been wearing. It was a blue dark enough to suggest a widow's black, but low enough in the front to catch the second glance of any man who had eyes. A glance in the mirror showed her newly curved figure showed to good advantage in the dress. She let part of her hair down to hang over her shoulder, grabbed a shawl to pretend at modesty, then hurried back downstairs. Ginnie was just finishing up with that look she always had when she solved a problem. "Pour l'amusement," the girl stated with satisfaction. "That's kind of an odd command for these, isn't it Ma'am Kate?" Kate cleared her throat and choked down a laugh. "Indeed. I'll tell you all about what we're doing when I get back. The same thing as the last few days. You'd best get back to class." She led Jake back out the kitchen door. "All right, I'm ready to make a fool of myself."</blockquote>

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