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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 4037865" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Two-hundred-sixty-seven, “Future Plans“, Wednesday, June 21st, 12:30 P.M. Jake goes over to the McCoy's table and says, "I trust that the sun shines more brightly for you two today? Seems to me the whole town is somehow a more pleasant place today." Prosper says, "Indeed, and much of it has to do with you Mr. Cook. I am not sure exactly how you accomplished what you did but I am thankful and grateful. You've not only freed me from involuntary servitude by a potential cloud of destruction no longer hangs over mine and Bonnie's families." Jake says, "I cannot take all the credit, others had a hand in it as well. What now for the McCoy's? Do you have any aspirations that have been long held back by your problems with Adair, or might you be interested in staying in the saloon business with a less vexatious partner?" McCoy says, "If you're talking the Palace I'm interested. I know the girls there and the other employees. For that matter, Evan never wanted Bonnie around but with him gone she might be able to help out as well. She plays both guitar and piano and can also cook." Jake nods a couple of times. "I envisioned it somewhat similar to how it used to be except with no limitations on race. Drinks, faro, roulette if the wheel survived, bawdy entertainment late at night, and the girls can ply their wares as they see fit. I thought that Finnegan might be good for security and an periodic fight night if he was still interested in that. Leave the serious poker to the Lucky Lady and the other saloons. Maybe even bring in the dwarven crowd if that makes sense..." Jake takes a moment to imagine some dwarven saloon girls and shudders, "... um, yes and I thought we could rename it to the Silver Palace or something. Mind you, I have little interest monitoring the day to day activities of another saloon." Or any saloon, he thinks to himself, "That means I am looking for somebody to manage each different portion of the place, or even the whole place." He pauses and looks back and forth between them. "What do you think? Interested?" McCoy says, "You're offering me the manager's job? Well sir, I will happily accept. That will also go a long way to keeping the current employees and customers, if a familiar face is there. If I have the management duties Mr. Finnegan would be a big help on security, as that was my job before. Nobody but nobody will give him a hard time. As for the wheel, no, I'm afraid that most of the first floor was a total loss. I've been supervising the repairs, it'll be another week or so until the Gunsight Brickyard gets the walls completely repaired and probably another week longer to get the replacement windows from back east, as Tombstone's repairs had bought up all supplies within three-hundred miles. I wanted to wait until those repairs were done before I get Neil Cassidy to put down new floorboards, no point in getting them ruined by the other repair work. So we're talking a solid month, plenty of time to get a new sign made and order a new wheel. Thankfully these repairs are all paid for by the property and items that Judge Isby had confiscated from the Hooded Riders and sold. I'm just glad that the Palace is still standing at all. According to what that Porter boy told the judge they had planned to toss enough dynamite through both the north and south windows to collapse the whole thing. They succeeded on the north wall but the guy on the south wall dropped half of his dynamite, killing himself in the process. Lucky break for us that he did." "Yes, quite fortunate," Jake says and remembers back to that morning where he shot the hooded rider in question and shrugs. "Best if we make our own luck though." Jake offers him a hand, "Congratulations, I am pleased to have you running things. Pay yourself a bartenders wage, and we will negotiate a percentage of the overall weekly take as your managers salary. Since you are now running the show for me, I will let you talk to Finnegan and offer the security position to him. Make sure you tell him we both think he is the man for the job. I would like to be consulted on hiring of any lead roles, and you can handle all the rest on your own. If you think we need a working woman to manage the girls let me know, I have someone in mind.” McCoy "If you are referring to Miss. West I am afraid I will have to object." Jake says, "Heh, no, I was not considering Miss West. I do not think she would be well suited to that role. I had someone from out of town in mind. I am pleased that you are comfortable speaking your mind, but tell me what is your concern over Miss West?" McCoy replies, "Honestly Mr. Cook, the impression she made upon me is an impulsive firebrand who acts first and thinks second....if at all. There is a time and place for that, but not in a management role in a saloon where I am employed." Jake chuckles. "Not to worry then, we both agree she should not be the lead girl. Let me know what you think later, but if we need one I will need some time to send her a telegram." McCoy says, "Send for her then. The other Lead, Kitty Trent, is gone and the only other past employee who I would have considered for that role is Miss. Boag, who has left as well and according to Mr. Van Horne doing quite well in Tucson and unlikely to return." Jake says, "I will. Also, if you need any help leading the construction crew, tell Jeff Mills I asked him to do it. Pay him whatever he asks. This is working out rather well." Jake tips his hat, "Enjoy your meal." McCoy says, "I will do that, I admire what Mr. Mills did for you here. And with Adair gone the Calhouns and Cassidy will be able to use their full work crews, rather than just the human ones, so that should speed things up too." Jake returns to the table with Minerva and Nakomo. Minerva motions for Jake to take his seat. "Nakomo and I would like to take you up on your offer of traveling together, if it is not too much of an inconvenience for you. We will need a few days to settle matters with the church be sure that the Sheriff has no objections with Nakomo leaving town and pack our belongings. How were you planning to travel, by coach or were you planning to ride?" Jake replies, "Train as much as feasible. A horse is too much a pain in the behind for that long a journey, both figuratively and literally. So stage where the train does not go, and train the rest of the way. I am not interested in leaving tomorrow, so that is not a problem for me. As for packing, well, I travel light so packing is no worry for me either." Jake shrugs and smiles. "Let me know when you are ready to travel, that is a good enough schedule for me." Minerva says, "We shall travel light also, since we do not know where we will end up. I expect that Nakomo and I can be ready to travel in a few days. We need to settle matters here first. I will send a letter off to the Bishop and let him know what our plans are, but I do not expect him to have any objections since I plan to be on the road before he receives it." she chuckles and shrugs. Ah well, It is of little consequence since I am sure that Senor Lacy will find someone suitable to take over during my absence. “Come Nakomo we have much to do." She stands and hugs Jake. "Gracias Jake, your company has turned a sad farewell into an adventure." her eyes darken momentarily. "I only hope that our friends return so that we may say Adios before we set out. I wonder where they have gone off too now? " Jake says, "Chet is here becoming Marshall Martin, and I saw Katherine last night. I do not expect they have gone too far." He shrugs again. "What do I know?" He bids them good day and spends some time around the saloon. Minerva pays the check before heading home to organize her departure from Promise City. Later in the day she strolls over to Lacey's store to inform the proprietor of her plans. “Buenas Dias, Senor Lacy. How are you on this fine sunny day? I have come to speak to you of a matter of some urgency. Do you have a free moment?” Judge Lacey replies, "Certainly Priestess, how may I be of assistance to you? She says, "Senor Lacy, You have been of great help to me and very kind while I have been in Promise City. It saddens me to tell you that I will be leaving. I do not know how long I will be away, but the gods have spoken to me and I must move on. I do not want to leave my flock unattended and I was hoping that you would know of someone who could step into my place." He asks, "Will you be back by September? That is when Laurie Gilson and I plan to wed. We were hoping that you would perform the ceremony." Minerva says, "Nothing would please me more, Senor Lacy, but I do not know. I am a woman of faith. I must go where the gods lead. If they will it, I will be here." Lacey replies, "I understand, I have always felt the same way. Don't worry about things here, we will carry on until you return." She replies, “Gracias, Senor Lacy. It eases my mind to know that you are here to manage things. You are a good man." She reaches over and hugs him briefly. “Now, we will need some supplies before we travel." She wanders the store picking up various sundries and brings them to the counter. She pays for her purchases and instructs Nakomo to bring them home . I am going to go and congratulate the new Marshall and speak to him about your traveling. You have paid your debt so I do not think that it will be a problem, but it is best to let them know. Minerva seeks out Chester and finds him and Clarisse at the restaurant. "Buenos Dias Marshall Martin!" She hugs him. "and Congratulations!" Chester returns the hug. "Good day to you too, Minerva. Thank you you very much. It's still hard to believe that I'm Marshall now. But Clarisse tells me that the swearing-in ceremony wasn't a dream. What's new? I haven't seen you around lately." Minerva saddens a bit as she reveals her news. "Nakomo and I are leaving Promise City. The gods work is done here. The Church has been built, the people are working together as brother and sister, the monsters have been destroyed and now with such an outstanding Marshall our job is done here." Clarisse gasps, "What? Oh no. Priestess, we still need your guidance." Chester adds, "If the gods need you elsewhere, who are we to argue? Do you know where you're going? We'll miss you both and wish you well." He pauses and says, "What should I tell Nanuet?" She says, "Gracias, Chester. I knew that you would understand my need to follow the path that the gods set before me. Tell Nanuet that I shall always love him and if it is the gods will, our paths shall converge again." She hugs him tightly and turning to Clarisse gives her a warm embrace. "Your Chester is an exceptional man, Clarisse and you are a strong woman. Take good care of him. May the gods bless you both and guard you from evil." Clarisse looks at Minerva with glistening eyes. "I promise, Priestess. Thank you for all you've done. You serve the gods well. Take care." The priestess straightens up and reins in her emotions. "I came to speak to you of Nakomo. I am taking him with me. I assume that he has paid his dept to society for his transgressions but I want to be sure that the law will not cause him grief once we depart. Do I have the laws permission to take him?" Chester says, "Hmm. I better ask Marshall B... Oh right, it's my choice now. Nakomo's kept his nose clean and he's done some good things while he's been here. Hold on for a moment." Chester asks Harry Rote for a pen and paper. He writes a note granting Nakomo his release and gives it to Minerva. "Give this to him. Just in case." She says, "Gracias, Marshall. Nakomo has proven himself to be a righteous man in the eyes of The gods. He has risked his life repeatedly to rid this town of evil and has asked for no recognition in return. This paper" she says holding out the paper that Chester has handed her "will insure that he is not badgered by those who do not know his character. I must go now and pack. I hope to see you before we go but if I do not, you will both be in my prayers." Chester tips his hat. "You're welcome, Minerva. I hope he won't need that, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared. Safe journeys to you both." She kisses his cheek and hugs Clarisse one more time and whispers in her ear. "perhaps when I return you will be Mrs. Martin." she chuckles and exits the restaurant. Clarisse turns bright red and put her hand over her mouth. She whispers back, "Maybe. I'll have to work on him." Chester looks confused. "What are you talking about?" Clarisse says, "Nothing, just some girl talk." Jake had done all he could at the Lucky Lady that did not involve real work, and was in jeopardy of getting roped into some so he decided to do his errands around the town. First he sent a telegram to one Matilda E. L. Reiter of Chicago Illinois. telegram wrote: Next Jake brought the pistols he recovered from the disguised cowboy gang members on the day he blew up the mine to Pierre at his shop. Knowing not much more than they likely had magical ammunition in them he gives them to Pierre and makes a deal, "You take your time to figure out what they are and what they are worth to you, you pay me in enchanted Colt 45 rounds whatever you think is fair." He leaves Pierre to do so at his liesure. Borrowing big Thom, Jake packs up his belongings at the house and has the hulking man bring them to Jake's big room at the Lucky Lady. While Thom does the heavy lifting for him, Jake goes to the El Parador to speak with Manuel Gonzalez. Finding that the old elf wizard is not around, Jake leaves a small box for Gonzalez. In the box are some potions, a pair of cuff links that lock, a belt buckle that turns the wearing into Silver Jake Cook, five dollars and a note: Note wrote:</blockquote>

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