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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3961068" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Two-hundred-forty-seven, “Changing Directions” , Monday, June 19th, 8:45 P.M. Jake sprints back to the Lucky Lady, taking half a moment to compose himself outside before entering. He is curious as to what transpired. Jake enters to see Adair still seated at the table with West standing beside him. Artemis Gordon is no longer present. Gordon returns shortly thereafter with another telegram which he hands to West. James West reads it and says, "Well Mr. Adair, you are correct in stating that you are known by people in high places. This was sent to me by President Chester A. Arthur himself. It confirms his Attorney General's previous order that you are to be arrested and brought to Washington and then turned over to the British Ambassador. So I guess you are wrong in your earlier assertion, I am not ending my career by arresting you." Adair exclaims, "WHAT! Arthur is an imbecile! He only became President because the right man was killed. He'll never get re-nominated, my friend James Gillespie Blaine will get the nomination and win in '84 and you will then be out of a job!" West replies, "Perhaps, but the current President of the United States has given me an order which I intend to follow. And I suspect that Mr. Blaine will choose to distance himself from you Mr. Adair, or should I say, Mr. Evanovich Kowalski Adarcziek of Warsaw, once you are found guilty of armed bank robbery and murdering of several policemen." Artemis Gordon goes to grab Adair's arm. He pulls it away and jumps to his feet saying, "Keep your hands off me! This is preposterous!" Jake goes to the poker table, and sits next to Van Horne. "Evan is that true? Evanovich? I am shocked and stunned at this turn of events." Jake keeps his right hand below the table. Adair exclaims, "This is all a misunderstanding." West states, "Sure it is, and these aren't your passports then?" He removes and holds up the two, showing the names and pictures. A shocked expression comes over Adair’s face. West continues, "These were found along with some of the money from the bank robbery and a few other odds and ends that Scotland Yard has been looking for. You are going to prison for a very long time Mr. Adair." Although Jake is enjoying the show, and it appears that the federal agent has handled Adair’s dodge, he wonders if now is not a good time for the diminutive newspaperman to appear. An indignant Adair struggles when Artemis Gordon goes to put handcuffs behind his back. "Here, let me help you with that," states Tim Finnegan who reaches over and lifts his former employer up into the air. "Get your hands off me you filthy ogre!" Adair shouts. Finnegan says, "Shut your mouth you murderer, you're lucky these men got you before I did." While this is going on West feels a tug on his coat and is handed something by the halfling newspaper editor. Once the handcuffs are on Adair is lowered to the ground. He glares at Van Horne and says, "They're making a mockery of your tournament! Aren't you going to do something about it!" Van Horne replies, "Indeed I am. Since you are being withdrawn for reasons beyond your control I will refund your entry fee. That will give you almost $ 3000 to use for your defense. Unfortunately that will have no impact on the side bet which you made with Mr. Cook, as the terms of that were simply whichever of you left the tournament first, there was no valid excuse clause." "And..." chimes in Jake, "it does indeed appear to me that you are departing the tournament." Job Kane then staggers forward and says, "Well Mr. Adair, I have some good news for you. I have met with Judge Isby and he invalidated that contract you coerced for my share of the Lucky Lady. It seems that man you brought with you to the signing is a well-known hypnotist, with outstanding warrants for crimes in Europe as well. That also explains why I had no memory of the transaction for a whole week. So when the bank opens tomorrow I'll see that the $ 5,000 purchase price is transferred back into your account, giving you even more money to pay for your legal defense." Jake exclaims, "The philanthropy and selflessness that I am witnessing here are humbling, I do not know how to measure up to that. It nearly brings a tear to my eye. Seems the best I can do is be pleased I am doing my part by removing you of the responsibility for rebuilding the Palace Saloon. Therefore you will have all your hard earned money available to fund your defense." Adair swears at Jake. Agent West says, "Okay, enough of that, let's get going." A carriage from the Wells Fargo Company pulls up right to the front door. Jake notes that both of the local Wells Fargo gunmen, Newton Gilly and Billy Glass are atop as well as the driver Chandler Wells. Gordon says, "And the United States Government was nice enough to even charter a special ride for you, no need to wait. After all, we can't ignore the President's direct orders can we. Thank you so much for having us take the time to verify the order" They usher him on board, the two Federal agents climbing inside. "I must honestly admit all of the customers at the Lucky Lady cause me happiness; some when they arrive, others when they depart." Jake is grinning ear to ear. "Now, where were we?" Van Horne says, "I believe we were trying to play poker. Sorry for the interruption. Why don't we take another break to clear off that extra pile of chips and rearrange the chairs for three players. Then we can resume and play for another three hours or until only two players are left, whichever comes first." Jake nods, rises and makes a quick stop at the outhouse. On his way back inside, he transfers the Palace Saloon deed to Van Horne using slight of hand. "We all saw Adair put the deeds on the table just prior to the bet being made. I am sure that Jake will appreciated that you held it for him until the wager was completed." Jake gives the big man a wink and continues to the bar for a fresh bourbon before returning to the table. Over at the El Parador, Estaban Fuente had stated “Let's get the party started!" It was obvious that Kate lost some of her hard-won peace, but much of it returns with Virgil Earp's departure. "I hope he doesn't feel the need to say good-bye to me before he goes," Kate muttered. Then, a little louder, "Now, my dear, you'd best dance with me before your brother offers." The next half hour flew by as Kate's spirits rose. The first two dances belonged to Conrad, as the next several would have had Edwin Booth not cut in. After that she was passed to Mr. Roosevelt before Conrad managed to steal her back. The room was buzzing during that last dance as people talked excitedly. They had stopped dancing for a drink when Pedro and Conrad burst out laughing at the bar. Her love was still laughing when he arrived at their table with two glasses of wine. "Another nail in the coffin of the Freedom Party, dear Kate," he said. “What? What's happened?" Kate demanded. He replies, "Evan Adair had some special visitors at the tournament. A Mr. James West, and a Mr. Artemis Gordon. Federal agents. Apparently our Mr. Adair's name is really Evanovich Kowalski Adarcziek from Warsaw, and he is wanted by Scotlard Yard for bank robbery and the murders of several policemen. They even had passports that belonged to him and some of the cash from the robbery. On top of that, Job Kane was there and told him that Judge Isby had invalidated his purchase of Kane's share of the saloon. Something about a hypnotist being present as the sale, who is also wanted for crimes. And of course since Adair left the tournament before Cook, your friend now has ownership of the Palace saloon," Conrad finished with a grin. She stared for a moment and laughed. "You know, today has been a very good day. You got your name cleared, the Earps will finally be gone, and Adair got what he deserved. I'm not sure it's possible for today to get better." Conrad smiles and says, "My day could, if I were to receive a positive answer from a much asked question. But that can also wait for another day, I'm nothing if not persistent." She replies, "So I noticed." Unheeding of the full saloon, Kate leaned over and kissed him. "As I've said, when I'm ready, you'll be the first to know. Perhaps it will help you to know that day is drawing closer." More seriously she added, "I have many wounds to heal. When I'm standing strong and confident on my own, then I can consider being a wife again." Chester and Clarisse stay for a couple hours at Vera Blake's gathering. He talks to the other candidates about their prospects on election day. Then they say their goodbyes and visit the El Parador. The party is in full swing, sweeping Chester and Clarisse in its wake. At the Lucky Lady, it is around 9:30 PM by the time the game resumes. For the next hour play remains rather even between the three players, with few bets going much above the ante. After 10:30 Hawkes begins to play more aggressively but neither Cook or Maverick rise to the bait, folding with even half decent hands, until Hawkes is forced to reluctantly slows as well. By 11:30 PM each of the players is still within $ 1000 of where they had been two hours before, with Hawkes up by the thousand, Jake down by $ 300 and Maverick down by $ 700. The game changes significantly with only three, and Adair gone. Jake is satisfied to keep the game slow for a bit, letting the others tire a bit more to see if that changes their game. Life feels very good for Jacob Alistair Cooke right now. He is up a saloon, albeit one tatters. His machinations have lead to one of the biggest thorns in his side heading towards prison. His position in the tournament has at least earned back his entry fee. He felt good, and felt every bit ready to go head to head with the two very fine poker players sharing the table with him. At 11:30 PM Chumbley makes his way through the Lucky Lady hawking his final 'pre-elcetion' edition of the Promise City Mirror. The top story reads "Wyatt Earp Acquitted". The other page one story has the headline "Adair Arrested - Cook wins Palace Saloon". He sells a copy to almost everybody in the saloon. A short while later he arrives at the El Parador selling the papers as well. When Kate buys her paper she sees that it is 24 pages long, mostly comprised of political advertisements, although the middle fold out has a copy of the sample ballot on one side and general instructions on how to vote on the other. A story on page two catches Kate's attention as it has the headline "Prosper McCoy withdraws from Election - throws support to Hank Hill". The story states how McCoy was only running because of Adair, so with Adair out he has no further desire to be Town Marshall. Kate also finds interesting a full-page advertisement put in by Doctor Eaton independent of the Law and Order Party advertisement. It has a personal appeal to the town to elect him and outlines a number of positions and options far less severe than those of the party that he belongs to, including mention of full support of the Hoover School. "Look at this, my dear," Kate said. "Doctor Eaton does seem to truly be reevaluating his views of things. He's been very kind to me lately. I can't help but feel there must be more to it than Diana choosing me to favor. I wish I knew what went on in the church that day." Conrad replies, "As your friend Priestess Florencia, she was there." Kate says, "If it was about me, I'd have been there. It's none of my business." Estaban Fuente stands up and says "It will be midnight soon and Judge Isby has forbidden any politic wrangling on election day, so I will make my speech now." He spends the next fifteen minutes making what Kate assumes is the same five-minute speech but in three different languages, English, Spanish and Dwarvish (for the dozen or so dwarves also in the room). In it he tells how his vision of the town is to make sure that the laws have full respect for all races and religions as well as to have fun events such as the Festival, the Romeo and Juliet Play, and parties such as those that Dorita throws. Kate says, "I wouldn't be surprised to see him win a seat tomorrow, especially considering his prior experience." She looked around the room and sighed. "I hate for today to end, but it's late and I have school in the morning." Conrad replies, "Very well then, I will walk you back to your home. Let's go and have you say your farewell to my brother." They wound their way through the crowd to where Edwin was chatting with one of the El Parador's regulars. The Lucky Lady’s poker game continues following the very brief interruption of the newspaper sales. For the remaining hour of this session Maverick and Cook continue to keep the pace slow despite continued attempts by Hawkes to increase. They wind up allowing Hawkes to win a number of hands at the ante-level rather then calling even minor increases with the exception of times that they have great hands, at which point Hawkes folds. At midnight Jake notes the younger-version of Manuel Gonzales enter and head over to an empty barstool, where he nurses a drink for the next half hour. By the time this session ends at 12:30 Hawkes has increased his fortune by another $ 1,500, the losses fairly evenly between the other two with Maverick down $ 700 and Cook down $ 800. That leaves the current totals at $ 12,800 for Maverick, $ 16,600 for Cook and $ 18,300 for Hawkes. Van Horne announces that they will take a forty-five minute break, resuming at 1:15 AM where they will play for five straight hours until the next break. The minimum ante will also increase to $ 400. At the El Parador, Edwin Booth turned to Kate and Conrad as Kate said, "It's late, and I must teach in the morning so I'm afraid I'll have to say good-bye." He kisses her hand and states "Not goodbye, merely so long for the moment, I am certain that we will see one another again soon." "Soon? Have you become prescient?" she asked lightly. "Is there travel in my future?" He laughs, "I should hope so, I plan to see the two of you again in the near future." Kate anssers, "Your brother at the very least. Although I hope I will see you again soon myself," Kate said sincerely. "You and your brother have a great deal of time to make up for." He replies, "Indeed we do, well Katherine, other than my getting shot it has been a fine visit here in Promise City. I wish you well in the future." "And I you." She felt as if she ought to embrace him or kiss his cheek, but they were not so close as to make that appropriate. Instead, she took her cue from his fine eastern manners and gave him a slight, playful curtsey. “I wish you a safe journey, Mr. Booth." Once the goodbyes are completed Conrad walks Kate back to her house. As they reach the door Conrad says, "Well, I will see you at some point tomorrow. Don't forget to vote." She replies, "How could I forget to vote? Except for blood-drinking monsters, theatricals, teaching, tournaments, and my Love my whole life this last month has been about this election," she smiled and stepped close. "Now, if my love would just attempt to muss me a bit my day would be complete." "Shall we go inside?" he asks quietly. Kate's heart thumped. This was not the answer she'd expected. "We will have to be quiet, Ginnie will be home," she said and opened the door. She gently took his hand and led him inside. They quickly make their way through the schoolroom and into the back. The rear of the house has two small rooms, a sitting room and the combination kitchen/pantry. Conrad pauses, waiting for Kate to decide upon their destination of either the cushioned loveseat/couch in the sitting room or the staircase leading up to the bedrooms. Fifteen different thoughts went through her mind, none of them doubting what she was about to do, just the best way to go about it. She finally took his hand more firmly and started up the stairs. At the top she let go and motioned for him to wait as she cracked Ginnie's door and peeked inside. Her lovely girl was there asleep and softly snoring with her hair in its customary braids. She closed the door and motioned for Conrad to join her. "She sleeps more soundly then she used to, but still fairly lightly. But I have an idea," she whispered and opened the door to her own bedroom. Kate actually notes some beads of nervous perspiration on Conrad's forehead as he enter the room through the opened doorway. She closed the door quietly, then cast a small spell to light the lamp on her nightstand. From the drawer below it she pulled out some of the privacy powder and dropped it into the flame with a mutter. "It might help," she explained in a quiet voice. She walked over and took her hands. "I love you, Conrad." She took her handkerchief and touched his forehead. "I will understand if this is too sudden for you." He replies softly, "Too sudden? Hardly my dear, I have been anticipating this moment for quite some time, I love you dearly." He wraps his arms around her and closes his mouth over hers. He had kissed her before, passionately, but they had both always held something back, the one thing that said this kiss was meant to be only the beginning. In this kiss nothing was held back. Kate felt naked long before her skin was exposed, before her hands touched his smooth chest and he lifted her up and gently took her to the bed. Time disappeared as they explored one another with gentle hands, eyes and lips. That tenderness would eventually give way to eagerness, and after a rest they would have to begin again; playful and curious until exhaustion finally managed the almost impossible task of overcoming desire for anything but to sleep against the warmth of the other's skin. The two embrace tightly. Conrad kisses her once more then utters the first words spoken in the last hour softly saying "This is right, I've never felt this way towards anybody before." Kate laced her fingers with his and curled up against him, suddenly noticing how much smaller she was than he. Not that it had been an impediment. She pressed her lips to his chest and answered, "Yes, we do fit rather well, don't we?" Meeting his eyes she said more seriously, "Where there is love, it is always right. We belong here." "We do. And you are also right about marriage, now is not the time, but I trust that the time will come and when it does we will both know it." They both fall asleep.</blockquote>

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