Silver Moon
Adventurer
Yeah, what a guy. Can't wait to use him again.
Chapter 125, “Maggie’s Night”, Friday, January 13th, 1882:
Chester, Kate and 'Louise' arrive at the Lone Star at around 7:30 PM, a half-hour earlier than usual. Maggie is wearing what must be her best clothing, a maroon colored cotton dress with lace and silk around the bodice, sleeves and lower hem. She is wearing her hair curled, something they haven't seen before and the stands of gray are no longer there. She approaches them with a happy smile on her face.
Job Kane hasn't arrived yet although several of his Friday night players, Al Brower, Henry Weller, Ned Walters and and Phil Rogers are sitting there waiting for him. Tony Lucky has his table full of regulars and is currently shuffling the deck and about to start. Jeff Mills is behind the bar serving drinks to three patrons standing there. William and Teddy Whipple are seated at a table along with the woman Alexsis Downy. Patrons are sitting at two of the other tables.
Katherine stepped forward and hugged her friend. "Maggie, you're lovely. That smile is perfect." She was glad she'd done herself up so simply. It was Maggie's night and the attention should be on her. "Did Dorita fill you in on what happened today?" Maggie nodded. "Is Jake really alright?" "Yes, just very tired. And Ruby doesn't want to leave him. I'm sure you understand. But Louise can sing tonight, and she's wonderful. The patrons will miss Ruby, I'm sure, but they won't lack for fine entertainment."
After a few moments Kate pulled Maggie aside. "I'd hoped to get a chance to speak to you about this sooner, but things have been rather hectic," she said quietly. She began to explain about how they didn't believe Tom and her father intended to let Maggie stay there, but stopped as noticed Maggie just nodding, her countenance not in the least surprised. "You know all this already, don't you?" She says, "I suspected at least. I know my father and brother. But for the next three nights I'm going to do the finest job of running a saloon they've ever seen. After that comes the hard part."
"Alright Maggie. Tonight let's try to keep Teddy and Alexsis off the stage. I hope you'll forgive me for saying so, but I don't particularly care for them. And let's try not to give your Father any excuse to interfere." With that Kate got down to work. She served drinks for the first half-hour until Job came down to start his game. Then she sat down at the piano to play for Louise. Her hand was a bit stiff, but it worked itself out after a few minutes and Kate began to enjoy the music.
Teddy and Alexsis head over to stage and Teddy tells Katherine "Okay, my turn." "How kind of you to give me a break. But really, I'm feeling quite comfortable here. It's been a long day, you might have heard about the bank robbery? I happened to be there, and my stomach has been in knots all day. Playing is doing a great deal to help me feel better." Katherine began the introduction to an energetic, but moderately long classical piece. Louise stepped off the stage to help wait tables.
Kate adds, And there was an advertisement in one of the papers yesterday for the Lone Star. It mentioned Miss West and myself. And as Miss West stayed with a sick friend tonight, the patrons ought to at least see one of the mentioned performers, don't you think?" Alexsis says "Well, if she's not coming then you'll definitely be needing me to sing later. We can't disappoint the crowd." And with that she and Teddy step away before Kate can respond.
Job Kane's game has been underway for about a half-hour just as Katherine is finishing up her piece. Out of the corner of her eye she sees a very large man standing in the doorway, Van Horne, scanning the room from side to side before entering. He then walks up to Job's table and says "Deal me in the next hand. In the meanwhile I'll get myself something to drink."
Van Horne walks up to the bar and asks for a Kentucky Bourbon. Jeff Mills says they don't have it in stock but offers several other choice whiskeys. Van Horne says "Well, if that's the best you have I guess it will have to do." Mills pours him one and the plump gentleman takes and heads over to Job's table, taking an empty seat directly across from the dealer.
Louise covers the floor quickly making sure that there will be plenty of drinks and food for the customers so that Teddy will not get a chance to grab the stage She also sticks her head into the kitchen "Mama, Teddy and Alexis are bound and determined to take the stage and they make Great grandfather's playing and singing look good. Do you have anything "special" that you might be able to whip up to help me keep them off the stage?”
Katherine segued immediately into another piece, not wanting to leave an opening for Teddy or Alexsis. She knew she couldn't hold them off with excuses all night, and she could have kicked herself for mentioning Ruby and giving Alexsis an opening. She kept her eye on the stairs leading up to the stage. Kate tried to think of every song she could that Alexsis wouldn't likely know. Most of them were Irish tunes that Tom had taught her. If all else failed, Kate herself could start to sing as Alexsis approached. She sighed, smiled at the room, and continued to play.
As soon as Sonoma recognizes the end of the piece she will get back to the stage starting with some acapella pieces to give Kate a break. She continues singing for as long as necessary, gauging the pieces to the audience and the hundred or so years of songs that she has under her belt. Sonoma has used nearly every trick in the book to keep the stage, never letting up for one minute during the next hour-and-a-half. Kate and Maggie alternate at the keyboards but Sonoma alone does the singing.
At around 10:00 PM Kate is serving drinks when she overhears Alexsis and Teddy complain to William Whipple, specifically she hears Teddy say "That Bitch won't let my sweetie sing," as he gestures towards the stage. William says "I'll handle this" as he walks over towards the piano to speak to his daughter. Kate walked past Teddy's table on the way to the door, resisting the urge to dump a drink all over him. She prayed Maggie would stand up to her Father and tell him she was in charge here, not him.
Simultaneous to this a pair of patrons arrive, namely Bolivar and de Scure's two companions, the human William Miller and the half-elf Carlos Wyman. Three men, workers from a mine up near the town of Dos Cabezas give them dirty looks. One mutters loud enough for half of the Saloon to hear "I though we rode all the way here to get away from the stinking Mexicans. This is supposed to be a human tavern." Sonoma give Maggie a signal that she will do some acapella work and give her a nod to Maggie's father as she begins an Elvan song with English words that she imbeds with bardic suggestions of staying calm, causing no trouble, and being happy.
Kate took a long deep breath and ignored the miners, despite the fact that she'd prefer to slap some sense into them. Instead she approached Mr. Miller and Mr. Wyman. "How pleasant to see you again, gentlemen." She led them over to the bar, as all the tables were full. "Now, what can I get you? Drinks, food? I can have either here in a few moments, but those moments will go quickly with Miss Louise singing for us," she added allowing her voice to carry.
William Whipple says something to his daughter that the other's except for Sonoma cannot hear over the sounds of Sonoma singing. He demands that Alexsis be allowed an opportunity to sing and states that she is being rude to her cousin. At first Maggie is defiant in her response, stating that it is her saloon and that she will run it as she wishes. But Whipple continues and after about two minutes Maggie caves, her posture sloping and she then relents. She stops playing and tells Louise "Why don't you take a break now." Sonoma slides onto the piano bench and begins to play.
She plays the piano loud enough to cover the conversation and tells Maggie "You stood up to your father but then gave in. Do you want her on the stage? And since when is your cousin someone you care what they want? Your father didn't interfere with your brother's night. What gives him the right to interfere with yours?" Maggie replies, "No, that's not true. Tom let Alexsis and Teddy perform on Tuesday."
Sonoma ignores that and continues "I will leave the stage only if that is what you truly want. However if I do you may want to send someone to the El Parador to see if they can get Ruby here. If I leave it only Ruby will be able to get that tone-deaf bellowing peacock and her piano pounding simpering husband -to- be off this stage tonight, otherwise you will watch as all of your profits walk out of the door." Maggie tells Sonoma "Look, I don't want my father to be angry with me. Let them play for a few minutes, you can use a break." Sonoma stands up from the piano and looks Maggie straight in the eye "I hope you enjoy the rest of your life in Denver under that man's roof letting him run your life." With that she leaves the stage and goes to cover the floor, first letting Dorita know that the night's work here has been a lost cause and that Maggie will never take a stand that is against her father's wishes.
Meanwhile, the three drunk miners get up from their table and walk over to the table that Miller and Wyman have seated at. One moves up to the chair behind Miller and the other two stand on both sides of Wyman. Both men at the table continue their conversation, giving no attention whatsoever to these men. Katherine patted her pocket, feeling the reassurance of Tom's pistol there. She usually didn't carry it here, but after today she hadn't wanted to leave it behind. She picked up her tray with their drinks and walked boldly up to the table.
She slid in between Miller and Wyman, using her body to split up the miners group. "How's your evening, gentlemen?" she asked and continued to chatter, keeping herself at the table and hoping the miners wouldn't want to start trouble with a lady there to get hurt. One of the miners tells Kate "We're going to sit and have a drink with our friends here. Why don't you go and fetch us all a round of beer." None of three however make any attempt to sit down.
Kate didn't want to leave, but she couldn't think of an excuse not to. Her eyes met Mr. Miller's, questioning. "I think you gentlemen still have full drinks over at your table, and there aren't enough chairs here for all of you. I'll be glad to take your money if you'd like fresh ones, but it seems wasteful to leave the others, no?" She turned her head toward the bar. "Jeff, we need more chairs here please."
Across the room one of the miners leans over and whispers something to Wyman. The half-elf continues to ignore him and talks to Miller as if the other three men weren't there. The miner who whispers says loud enough for others to here "Think you're really smart huh?" Kate stumbled back from the table. "Jeff!" she called, slipping her hand into her pocket, but not bringing it out. "These three men are keeping our guests from enjoying their drinks. Would you escort them to the door, please?"
The man throws a punch towards the side of Wyman's face. Without standing, taking his eyes off his companion or even taking a break in their conversation Wyman thrusts up his left hand and grabs the man by the wrist, stopping it within an inch of the side of his face. Simultaneous to this he uses his right hand to cup the man's elbow. Wyman then moves his left hand down and right hand up, breaking the man's arm. The man behind Miller moves to attack him but Miller counters by swiftly lifting up his mug and flinging the contents of the glass into the man's face.
The fight intensifies as the man on the other side of Wyman lunges at him. Wyman pushes himself off of the table and slides both himself and the chair back, moving away from the table three feet back as the man lands on the floor. Miller stands and tips the table, using it to pin the man on the floor there. The man behind Miller grabs a chair to swing into him. Miller catches the chair and uses it to pull the man forward, flinging him into the overturned table. The man with the broken arm just stands there howling in pain. Jeff Mills quickly hurries out from behind the bar but both Maggie and William Whipple reach the commotion first. William physically pushes his daughter aside and says "I'll handle this."
Kate took a few angry breaths as she watched William Whipple shove his own daughter. "No sir, the staff and the owner will handle this," she said hands on her hips and eyes angry. "I suggest you return to your table." Sonoma also begins to work at breaking up the fight by removing objects that can be used as weapons and watching to make sure that there are no guns or knifes being drawn. She stands behind Maggie and says "It's now or never. Take charge or decide to leave.”
Whipple yells to Kate "This is your fault Kale, you should have thrown out these Mexican troublemakers when they first showed up." His yelling at Kate has one unanticipated side effect, the entire Saloon comes to a complete halt and silence follows.
Miller is the first to speak and in his thick English accent exclaims "Sir, your conclusion that we are troublemakers is as inaccurate as your calling us Mexicans. I happen to be from England and my associate Mr. Wyman is Peruvian although he also holds a British passport. We happen to be here in the United States on a diplomatic mission and have paperwork signed by your President Chester A. Arthur to that effect. My associate and I came here tonight upon the invitation of this Saloon's owner, Maggie Whipple. Obviously that was a mistake, for as kind and gracious a host as she is others do not share that sentiment.
You may not have noticed it Sir, but it was these three men who began the altercation. We attempted to mind our own business until the first punch was thrown. We will take our leave. Please feel free to forward an invoice to us at the El Parador for any damages to the facility or medical services for these men. Thank you." And with that both Miller and Wyman depart. Before anything else can be said Teddy starts banging on the keyboards and Alexsis starts to yell to the crowd "Okay everybody, let's have us some fun." She then starts a round of sing-along bar songs and encourages everyone to join in.
Sonoma marches up to Whipple and says, “Congratulation sir. You have just insulted the most powerful men in town, because of an assumption that one race is better than another. I am glad to see that your daughter is much more open-minded than you. However I find the way you treat her and other people appalling. I'm amazed with the fact that with your attitude you were ever able to run a saloon or any business.”
Whipple balls up his fists and it looks as though he is going to punch Sonoma. Before he can however two large burly hands clamp onto both of his arms. William Whipple looks back to see who has grabbed him and says "Let go of me Mills, or you're fired." Jeff replies, "No sir, I work for Tom and Maggie, not you, and they hired me to be the bouncer. That means keeping things under control. Your nephew and his girl are helping to bring this situation back to normal and I'm not letting anyone prevent that, including you. Why don't we both help these injured gentlemen outside."
Whipple just stares at Jeff Mills, his face still beet red with anger. Another voice, that of Job Kane says "I'll help you out Jeff. Too noisy in here now to focus on my game so I called it a night." William Whipple reluctantly assists Jeff and Job with removing the three miners from the Lone Star. Job whisper to 'Louise' "I'd suggest you not be here when Mr. Whipple returns."
As William Whipple made a fool of himself, Kate continued to stand straight and look him in the eye. Her glare didn't shift even as Mr. Miller spoke. After the men left and Jeff and Job got Whipple to help take the injured out, she picked up her tray. "I am not required to stand here and be insulted, and I will not tolerate it a second time. With your permission, Mrs. Whipple, I'll return to my work." Teddy's playing was an affront to her ears as she moved through the room, back straight and stiff. The singing was worse. Anger was still boiling inside her, but she tried to hide it as she went back to taking care of the customers.
Sonoma looks at Maggie "I'm sorry if you're angry but I needed to say it . As I'm now a deficit to you I'll be leaving for the evening you know where to find me if you need me tomorrow" With that she sticks her head in the kitchen lets her mother know she's going home and leaves.
The final hour of the evening goes by without incident. Most of Job's players departed after he ended his game but Van Horne switched over to Tony's table and wound up taking everybody's money as he had done at Job's, the game wrapping up at around 11:30 PM Alexsis provided entertainment for the remainder of the evening although thankfully Maggie decided to relieve her cousin at the piano. It became obvious to Kate that Alexsis's singing range and repertoire of songs was rather limited, but showed that the woman was at least smart enough to stick with what she could do fairly well.
Jeff Mills got back right away but without Whipple. When Maggie asked about her father Mills replied "He headed over to the Comique to talk to Tom." Most of the patrons depart after Tony's game breaks up, as there was little to keep them there, with Alexsis now repeating songs that she had sung earlier. Maggie goes into the kitchen and thanks Dorita for her help. Dorita says "You are most welcome. Could you please ask Kate to come in here for a minute?" Kate had calmed down somewhat by the time Maggie asked her to step into the kitchen, "Yes Dorita? What can I do for you?"
Dorita exclaims in her mangled version of the English language "I not wizard. Grandfather put magic all over door and window of back wall to keep people out. Sonoma was to cast spell at end of night to take it off, but she go. I need you do that instead." She hands a jar of rose-colored sand to Kate and says "You to toss on back wall while casting magic spell and use the words "Aka`aka Loko I Ka Ike A Ke Aloha." I ask him and he say that mean "The secrets within me are seen through love" in gnome language. I think that Grandfather a very odd man."
Kate laughed softly. "I think you're right. I've certainly never met another like him." She took the jar and dipped her hand inside. As she tossed several handfuls of the sand against the back wall she repeated, "Aka`aka Loko I Ka Ike A Ke Aloha." She then cast a detect magic cantrip to see if she had successfully removed the spell. The spell appeared to have worked as there is no longer any magical aura. Dorita tries a more mundane method of checking - she opens the back door. She fills up the wooden box with the foodstuffs that she didn't use and says "I ready to go now."
Kate checks to make sure that Chester is ready to escort them back, seeing him standing out front. The main room is quiet now, with Job and Tony having left. Alexsis and Teddy are sitting close in a corner table with an end of the night nightcap. Jeff says "I'll head down to the Comique to tell Tom and William that we're done." He heads out the door.
Maggie looks towards Kate and with a dejected sigh says "It looks like I'm done too." Kate walked over and put her arm around Maggie. "I'm so sorry. I wanted so much to help but I lost my temper. I'm going to tell you something, and I hope you won't be angry with me. The trouble tonight came from one thing, the relationship between you and your father. He interfered with your ability to run this business whenever he could, and you allowed him to do so. Without his interference Jeff would just have thrown those miners out and that would have been the end of it. The people you employ are loyal to you. They listen to what you say, not your Father, we will back you up.
Teddy and Alexsis, I admit Louise and I were probably too strict in trying to keep them off the stage. But Teddy is truly awful at the piano, and we felt that letting them get up there would just be one step in letting your Father take over. You are a grown woman, and unless your father plans to put you on the stage at gunpoint, he can't make you leave. If you don't declare your independence now, he's going to run your life forever. I know you have other concerns, mostly Tom and Flossie, but please consider what I said. I'll see you tomorrow."
Outside Kate joined Dorita and took Mr. Martin's arm. She was truly exhausted. There was only so much energy one person had, and she was reaching the end of hers. She leaned heavily on Mr. Martin's arm as they returned to the El Parador. "Good night Mr. Martin, good night Dorita, thank you," she said quietly before she mounted the stairs and went up to her room. Tomorrow would be better. Lessons with Mr. Gonzales were always a pleasure, and then there would be a ride out to the ranch and time to look over the horses there. She avoided thinking about work tomorrow night. Then Sunday would be blissfully free, with nothing to do but lose at poker in the evening. Kate loosely braided her hair, got into her nightgown, and climbed gratefully into bed.

Chapter 125, “Maggie’s Night”, Friday, January 13th, 1882:
Chester, Kate and 'Louise' arrive at the Lone Star at around 7:30 PM, a half-hour earlier than usual. Maggie is wearing what must be her best clothing, a maroon colored cotton dress with lace and silk around the bodice, sleeves and lower hem. She is wearing her hair curled, something they haven't seen before and the stands of gray are no longer there. She approaches them with a happy smile on her face.
Job Kane hasn't arrived yet although several of his Friday night players, Al Brower, Henry Weller, Ned Walters and and Phil Rogers are sitting there waiting for him. Tony Lucky has his table full of regulars and is currently shuffling the deck and about to start. Jeff Mills is behind the bar serving drinks to three patrons standing there. William and Teddy Whipple are seated at a table along with the woman Alexsis Downy. Patrons are sitting at two of the other tables.
Katherine stepped forward and hugged her friend. "Maggie, you're lovely. That smile is perfect." She was glad she'd done herself up so simply. It was Maggie's night and the attention should be on her. "Did Dorita fill you in on what happened today?" Maggie nodded. "Is Jake really alright?" "Yes, just very tired. And Ruby doesn't want to leave him. I'm sure you understand. But Louise can sing tonight, and she's wonderful. The patrons will miss Ruby, I'm sure, but they won't lack for fine entertainment."
After a few moments Kate pulled Maggie aside. "I'd hoped to get a chance to speak to you about this sooner, but things have been rather hectic," she said quietly. She began to explain about how they didn't believe Tom and her father intended to let Maggie stay there, but stopped as noticed Maggie just nodding, her countenance not in the least surprised. "You know all this already, don't you?" She says, "I suspected at least. I know my father and brother. But for the next three nights I'm going to do the finest job of running a saloon they've ever seen. After that comes the hard part."
"Alright Maggie. Tonight let's try to keep Teddy and Alexsis off the stage. I hope you'll forgive me for saying so, but I don't particularly care for them. And let's try not to give your Father any excuse to interfere." With that Kate got down to work. She served drinks for the first half-hour until Job came down to start his game. Then she sat down at the piano to play for Louise. Her hand was a bit stiff, but it worked itself out after a few minutes and Kate began to enjoy the music.
Teddy and Alexsis head over to stage and Teddy tells Katherine "Okay, my turn." "How kind of you to give me a break. But really, I'm feeling quite comfortable here. It's been a long day, you might have heard about the bank robbery? I happened to be there, and my stomach has been in knots all day. Playing is doing a great deal to help me feel better." Katherine began the introduction to an energetic, but moderately long classical piece. Louise stepped off the stage to help wait tables.
Kate adds, And there was an advertisement in one of the papers yesterday for the Lone Star. It mentioned Miss West and myself. And as Miss West stayed with a sick friend tonight, the patrons ought to at least see one of the mentioned performers, don't you think?" Alexsis says "Well, if she's not coming then you'll definitely be needing me to sing later. We can't disappoint the crowd." And with that she and Teddy step away before Kate can respond.
Job Kane's game has been underway for about a half-hour just as Katherine is finishing up her piece. Out of the corner of her eye she sees a very large man standing in the doorway, Van Horne, scanning the room from side to side before entering. He then walks up to Job's table and says "Deal me in the next hand. In the meanwhile I'll get myself something to drink."
Van Horne walks up to the bar and asks for a Kentucky Bourbon. Jeff Mills says they don't have it in stock but offers several other choice whiskeys. Van Horne says "Well, if that's the best you have I guess it will have to do." Mills pours him one and the plump gentleman takes and heads over to Job's table, taking an empty seat directly across from the dealer.
Louise covers the floor quickly making sure that there will be plenty of drinks and food for the customers so that Teddy will not get a chance to grab the stage She also sticks her head into the kitchen "Mama, Teddy and Alexis are bound and determined to take the stage and they make Great grandfather's playing and singing look good. Do you have anything "special" that you might be able to whip up to help me keep them off the stage?”
Katherine segued immediately into another piece, not wanting to leave an opening for Teddy or Alexsis. She knew she couldn't hold them off with excuses all night, and she could have kicked herself for mentioning Ruby and giving Alexsis an opening. She kept her eye on the stairs leading up to the stage. Kate tried to think of every song she could that Alexsis wouldn't likely know. Most of them were Irish tunes that Tom had taught her. If all else failed, Kate herself could start to sing as Alexsis approached. She sighed, smiled at the room, and continued to play.
As soon as Sonoma recognizes the end of the piece she will get back to the stage starting with some acapella pieces to give Kate a break. She continues singing for as long as necessary, gauging the pieces to the audience and the hundred or so years of songs that she has under her belt. Sonoma has used nearly every trick in the book to keep the stage, never letting up for one minute during the next hour-and-a-half. Kate and Maggie alternate at the keyboards but Sonoma alone does the singing.
At around 10:00 PM Kate is serving drinks when she overhears Alexsis and Teddy complain to William Whipple, specifically she hears Teddy say "That Bitch won't let my sweetie sing," as he gestures towards the stage. William says "I'll handle this" as he walks over towards the piano to speak to his daughter. Kate walked past Teddy's table on the way to the door, resisting the urge to dump a drink all over him. She prayed Maggie would stand up to her Father and tell him she was in charge here, not him.
Simultaneous to this a pair of patrons arrive, namely Bolivar and de Scure's two companions, the human William Miller and the half-elf Carlos Wyman. Three men, workers from a mine up near the town of Dos Cabezas give them dirty looks. One mutters loud enough for half of the Saloon to hear "I though we rode all the way here to get away from the stinking Mexicans. This is supposed to be a human tavern." Sonoma give Maggie a signal that she will do some acapella work and give her a nod to Maggie's father as she begins an Elvan song with English words that she imbeds with bardic suggestions of staying calm, causing no trouble, and being happy.
Kate took a long deep breath and ignored the miners, despite the fact that she'd prefer to slap some sense into them. Instead she approached Mr. Miller and Mr. Wyman. "How pleasant to see you again, gentlemen." She led them over to the bar, as all the tables were full. "Now, what can I get you? Drinks, food? I can have either here in a few moments, but those moments will go quickly with Miss Louise singing for us," she added allowing her voice to carry.
William Whipple says something to his daughter that the other's except for Sonoma cannot hear over the sounds of Sonoma singing. He demands that Alexsis be allowed an opportunity to sing and states that she is being rude to her cousin. At first Maggie is defiant in her response, stating that it is her saloon and that she will run it as she wishes. But Whipple continues and after about two minutes Maggie caves, her posture sloping and she then relents. She stops playing and tells Louise "Why don't you take a break now." Sonoma slides onto the piano bench and begins to play.
She plays the piano loud enough to cover the conversation and tells Maggie "You stood up to your father but then gave in. Do you want her on the stage? And since when is your cousin someone you care what they want? Your father didn't interfere with your brother's night. What gives him the right to interfere with yours?" Maggie replies, "No, that's not true. Tom let Alexsis and Teddy perform on Tuesday."
Sonoma ignores that and continues "I will leave the stage only if that is what you truly want. However if I do you may want to send someone to the El Parador to see if they can get Ruby here. If I leave it only Ruby will be able to get that tone-deaf bellowing peacock and her piano pounding simpering husband -to- be off this stage tonight, otherwise you will watch as all of your profits walk out of the door." Maggie tells Sonoma "Look, I don't want my father to be angry with me. Let them play for a few minutes, you can use a break." Sonoma stands up from the piano and looks Maggie straight in the eye "I hope you enjoy the rest of your life in Denver under that man's roof letting him run your life." With that she leaves the stage and goes to cover the floor, first letting Dorita know that the night's work here has been a lost cause and that Maggie will never take a stand that is against her father's wishes.
Meanwhile, the three drunk miners get up from their table and walk over to the table that Miller and Wyman have seated at. One moves up to the chair behind Miller and the other two stand on both sides of Wyman. Both men at the table continue their conversation, giving no attention whatsoever to these men. Katherine patted her pocket, feeling the reassurance of Tom's pistol there. She usually didn't carry it here, but after today she hadn't wanted to leave it behind. She picked up her tray with their drinks and walked boldly up to the table.
She slid in between Miller and Wyman, using her body to split up the miners group. "How's your evening, gentlemen?" she asked and continued to chatter, keeping herself at the table and hoping the miners wouldn't want to start trouble with a lady there to get hurt. One of the miners tells Kate "We're going to sit and have a drink with our friends here. Why don't you go and fetch us all a round of beer." None of three however make any attempt to sit down.
Kate didn't want to leave, but she couldn't think of an excuse not to. Her eyes met Mr. Miller's, questioning. "I think you gentlemen still have full drinks over at your table, and there aren't enough chairs here for all of you. I'll be glad to take your money if you'd like fresh ones, but it seems wasteful to leave the others, no?" She turned her head toward the bar. "Jeff, we need more chairs here please."
Across the room one of the miners leans over and whispers something to Wyman. The half-elf continues to ignore him and talks to Miller as if the other three men weren't there. The miner who whispers says loud enough for others to here "Think you're really smart huh?" Kate stumbled back from the table. "Jeff!" she called, slipping her hand into her pocket, but not bringing it out. "These three men are keeping our guests from enjoying their drinks. Would you escort them to the door, please?"
The man throws a punch towards the side of Wyman's face. Without standing, taking his eyes off his companion or even taking a break in their conversation Wyman thrusts up his left hand and grabs the man by the wrist, stopping it within an inch of the side of his face. Simultaneous to this he uses his right hand to cup the man's elbow. Wyman then moves his left hand down and right hand up, breaking the man's arm. The man behind Miller moves to attack him but Miller counters by swiftly lifting up his mug and flinging the contents of the glass into the man's face.
The fight intensifies as the man on the other side of Wyman lunges at him. Wyman pushes himself off of the table and slides both himself and the chair back, moving away from the table three feet back as the man lands on the floor. Miller stands and tips the table, using it to pin the man on the floor there. The man behind Miller grabs a chair to swing into him. Miller catches the chair and uses it to pull the man forward, flinging him into the overturned table. The man with the broken arm just stands there howling in pain. Jeff Mills quickly hurries out from behind the bar but both Maggie and William Whipple reach the commotion first. William physically pushes his daughter aside and says "I'll handle this."
Kate took a few angry breaths as she watched William Whipple shove his own daughter. "No sir, the staff and the owner will handle this," she said hands on her hips and eyes angry. "I suggest you return to your table." Sonoma also begins to work at breaking up the fight by removing objects that can be used as weapons and watching to make sure that there are no guns or knifes being drawn. She stands behind Maggie and says "It's now or never. Take charge or decide to leave.”
Whipple yells to Kate "This is your fault Kale, you should have thrown out these Mexican troublemakers when they first showed up." His yelling at Kate has one unanticipated side effect, the entire Saloon comes to a complete halt and silence follows.
Miller is the first to speak and in his thick English accent exclaims "Sir, your conclusion that we are troublemakers is as inaccurate as your calling us Mexicans. I happen to be from England and my associate Mr. Wyman is Peruvian although he also holds a British passport. We happen to be here in the United States on a diplomatic mission and have paperwork signed by your President Chester A. Arthur to that effect. My associate and I came here tonight upon the invitation of this Saloon's owner, Maggie Whipple. Obviously that was a mistake, for as kind and gracious a host as she is others do not share that sentiment.
You may not have noticed it Sir, but it was these three men who began the altercation. We attempted to mind our own business until the first punch was thrown. We will take our leave. Please feel free to forward an invoice to us at the El Parador for any damages to the facility or medical services for these men. Thank you." And with that both Miller and Wyman depart. Before anything else can be said Teddy starts banging on the keyboards and Alexsis starts to yell to the crowd "Okay everybody, let's have us some fun." She then starts a round of sing-along bar songs and encourages everyone to join in.
Sonoma marches up to Whipple and says, “Congratulation sir. You have just insulted the most powerful men in town, because of an assumption that one race is better than another. I am glad to see that your daughter is much more open-minded than you. However I find the way you treat her and other people appalling. I'm amazed with the fact that with your attitude you were ever able to run a saloon or any business.”
Whipple balls up his fists and it looks as though he is going to punch Sonoma. Before he can however two large burly hands clamp onto both of his arms. William Whipple looks back to see who has grabbed him and says "Let go of me Mills, or you're fired." Jeff replies, "No sir, I work for Tom and Maggie, not you, and they hired me to be the bouncer. That means keeping things under control. Your nephew and his girl are helping to bring this situation back to normal and I'm not letting anyone prevent that, including you. Why don't we both help these injured gentlemen outside."
Whipple just stares at Jeff Mills, his face still beet red with anger. Another voice, that of Job Kane says "I'll help you out Jeff. Too noisy in here now to focus on my game so I called it a night." William Whipple reluctantly assists Jeff and Job with removing the three miners from the Lone Star. Job whisper to 'Louise' "I'd suggest you not be here when Mr. Whipple returns."
As William Whipple made a fool of himself, Kate continued to stand straight and look him in the eye. Her glare didn't shift even as Mr. Miller spoke. After the men left and Jeff and Job got Whipple to help take the injured out, she picked up her tray. "I am not required to stand here and be insulted, and I will not tolerate it a second time. With your permission, Mrs. Whipple, I'll return to my work." Teddy's playing was an affront to her ears as she moved through the room, back straight and stiff. The singing was worse. Anger was still boiling inside her, but she tried to hide it as she went back to taking care of the customers.
Sonoma looks at Maggie "I'm sorry if you're angry but I needed to say it . As I'm now a deficit to you I'll be leaving for the evening you know where to find me if you need me tomorrow" With that she sticks her head in the kitchen lets her mother know she's going home and leaves.
The final hour of the evening goes by without incident. Most of Job's players departed after he ended his game but Van Horne switched over to Tony's table and wound up taking everybody's money as he had done at Job's, the game wrapping up at around 11:30 PM Alexsis provided entertainment for the remainder of the evening although thankfully Maggie decided to relieve her cousin at the piano. It became obvious to Kate that Alexsis's singing range and repertoire of songs was rather limited, but showed that the woman was at least smart enough to stick with what she could do fairly well.
Jeff Mills got back right away but without Whipple. When Maggie asked about her father Mills replied "He headed over to the Comique to talk to Tom." Most of the patrons depart after Tony's game breaks up, as there was little to keep them there, with Alexsis now repeating songs that she had sung earlier. Maggie goes into the kitchen and thanks Dorita for her help. Dorita says "You are most welcome. Could you please ask Kate to come in here for a minute?" Kate had calmed down somewhat by the time Maggie asked her to step into the kitchen, "Yes Dorita? What can I do for you?"
Dorita exclaims in her mangled version of the English language "I not wizard. Grandfather put magic all over door and window of back wall to keep people out. Sonoma was to cast spell at end of night to take it off, but she go. I need you do that instead." She hands a jar of rose-colored sand to Kate and says "You to toss on back wall while casting magic spell and use the words "Aka`aka Loko I Ka Ike A Ke Aloha." I ask him and he say that mean "The secrets within me are seen through love" in gnome language. I think that Grandfather a very odd man."
Kate laughed softly. "I think you're right. I've certainly never met another like him." She took the jar and dipped her hand inside. As she tossed several handfuls of the sand against the back wall she repeated, "Aka`aka Loko I Ka Ike A Ke Aloha." She then cast a detect magic cantrip to see if she had successfully removed the spell. The spell appeared to have worked as there is no longer any magical aura. Dorita tries a more mundane method of checking - she opens the back door. She fills up the wooden box with the foodstuffs that she didn't use and says "I ready to go now."
Kate checks to make sure that Chester is ready to escort them back, seeing him standing out front. The main room is quiet now, with Job and Tony having left. Alexsis and Teddy are sitting close in a corner table with an end of the night nightcap. Jeff says "I'll head down to the Comique to tell Tom and William that we're done." He heads out the door.
Maggie looks towards Kate and with a dejected sigh says "It looks like I'm done too." Kate walked over and put her arm around Maggie. "I'm so sorry. I wanted so much to help but I lost my temper. I'm going to tell you something, and I hope you won't be angry with me. The trouble tonight came from one thing, the relationship between you and your father. He interfered with your ability to run this business whenever he could, and you allowed him to do so. Without his interference Jeff would just have thrown those miners out and that would have been the end of it. The people you employ are loyal to you. They listen to what you say, not your Father, we will back you up.
Teddy and Alexsis, I admit Louise and I were probably too strict in trying to keep them off the stage. But Teddy is truly awful at the piano, and we felt that letting them get up there would just be one step in letting your Father take over. You are a grown woman, and unless your father plans to put you on the stage at gunpoint, he can't make you leave. If you don't declare your independence now, he's going to run your life forever. I know you have other concerns, mostly Tom and Flossie, but please consider what I said. I'll see you tomorrow."
Outside Kate joined Dorita and took Mr. Martin's arm. She was truly exhausted. There was only so much energy one person had, and she was reaching the end of hers. She leaned heavily on Mr. Martin's arm as they returned to the El Parador. "Good night Mr. Martin, good night Dorita, thank you," she said quietly before she mounted the stairs and went up to her room. Tomorrow would be better. Lessons with Mr. Gonzales were always a pleasure, and then there would be a ride out to the ranch and time to look over the horses there. She avoided thinking about work tomorrow night. Then Sunday would be blissfully free, with nothing to do but lose at poker in the evening. Kate loosely braided her hair, got into her nightgown, and climbed gratefully into bed.