"Revenge, Renewal and the Promise of a New Year" (Boot Hill/D&D)

[Silver Moon]

Chapter Forty-six, “A large pile of cash”, January 7th, 1882:

The downstairs of the Cantina was empty when Kate returned. She headed upstairs for her room. Dorita had been right, she was exhausted. Sleep would be best. Kate pulled out her key and opened the door. She almost stepped over the bill on the floor. Kate bent down and picked it up. A hundred dollars. A small fortune for many, and Ruby had just left it here. Kate stuffed the bill in her pocket and went down to the stables. A few moments later she was riding out of Promise City, praying she was going the right direction.

Katherine returns from her search for Ruby with no trace of her. When she gets into the Cantina she sees Jake, with his new hat, and Nanuet sitting at a table in the corner. Nanuet has money in his hand but Katherine can't see what it is. Nanuet stands up and steps back from the table. "I guess you were out looking for the girl?" he says in an exhausted tone. "And by the way you look I guess you didn't find her."

"She left this in my room." as he holds up a $100 dollar bill. "Is she hiding something? Did we bother her in some way? Certainly too dangerous for her to be out alone, as I am sure once word gets out about what happened today we will have some enemies." Nanuet starts to ramble and get visibly upset. He unknowingly crumples the bill in his hand and reaches for his glass on the table and downs the remaining contents in one gulp. "So what are we waiting for, let's go find her!"

Ruby didn’t get too far. Her instincts tell her she made a mistake. She had ridden past the spot where she and Jake buried that green ball and she realized that Jake had been more than a gentleman to her. It had been a while since she had that. And in one week Kate was a good a friend she ever had. Maybe she would forgive her when she learned the truth. And Nanuet had actually saved her life back in that cave. Ruby turned her horse around and rode back into town, back to the Cantina.

When she got inside Nanuet, Jake and Katherine were sitting at a table in the corner of the room. Nanuet was waving his $100 bill around so she knew they were talking about her. She walks up to them, pulls something out of her bodice, throws the huge stack of money on the table and plops down in the empty chair. “Damn all of you,” she says shaking her head. She couldn’t keep her promise to herself to stay out of trouble, but she could at least keep her promise to try to be different.

"I'm sorry Nanuet," Jake says looking at the Indian, "I missed what you were saying. I was just sitting here thinking how pleasant it will be to listen to Miss West sing tonight" He then takes off his hat and spins it around on his finger tips and looks at Ruby. "What do you think? Is it as good as the old one?"

Dorita has been watching the goings on from the corner of her eye. She heads over to a table at the other end of the room where a man with a thin mustache in a well-tailored navy blue suit, silk shirt and western-style tie is eating. The group has seen this man dining at the El Parador earlier in the week but has never been introduced. She says something to him and then leads him over to the table.

She arrives at the table, points to the pile of money that Ruby has just placed there and says “What’s the matter with you!” she exclaims. “You should not displaying all that money in public! Are you trying to get my hotel robbed! If either of the banks were open I’d march you over there to deposit it. Neither of them is so we’ll do the next best thing. This is Conrad Booth. He lives near the hotel and has a wall safe that is so well constructed that the James Gang and Billy the Kid were unable to break into it. You go with him right now and put all of that money away in his safe.”

Conrad Booth notices Jake's apprehension about this. He leans over and whispers into Jake's ear “Look, we don’t know each other but I think we both can trust Dorita. I don’t actually expect you leave your money in my safe, but there are three or four people in this room right now who she’d like to have think that you did. She doesn’t want robberies or murders in her hotel, so why don’t you all follow me over to my place next door and we’ll figure this out there.”

"Alright, that's fine advice Dorita." Jake winks at Ruby, "Now well need to put this all in something to bring it over, shall I help you put it back where it came from?" Seeing the look of horror on Katherine’s face, "No, of course not." He starts pushing the pile of money over towards Ruby carefully palming a number of the largest bills. In a whisper to Ruby, "Well Dorita is all riled up, lets at least pretend to put it in his safe. It's your call when we get there. We can put all, we can keep lifting out the big bills and make him believe we put it all, or walk away with it all and let just these folks believe it." Smiling at her up close, "It looks to me like you're the banker."

They pick up the money and head over to Booth's house, a two story brick building less than 70 feet diagonally behind the Cantina. Once inside Booth repeats what he said to Jake to the others. He suggests they wait a few minutes, hide their money, and then head back to the El Parador and "Continue your money discussions in a place without so many onlookers."

Ruby notices that it is strange that Booth's bed is downstairs sitting in the main living room. She asks, "Any reason why you sleep on the first floor?" He laughs and says "I used to sleep upstairs but now the second floor is preserved as a museum." "What?" Katherine asks.

Booth continues "Last July the James Gang and Billy the Kid showed up here in Promise City. A local boy, Cleatus James, was a cousin of Jesse's and lived here in the town for a while. He knew where all the safes in town were located and clandestinely led the gang to all the places in town where the money was kept. Prior to coming over here to my place they robbed the Condon brothers’ house. The Condons were my landlords and had keys to this place in their own safe, which is how they got in.

The second floor is where the ‘Promise City Shootout’ happened. Keeping the place as it was has been good for my gambling table at the Long Branch Saloon. People want to see it and I only give the tour of it if they’ve spent a night playing at my gambling table first. I’ll be willing to make an exception with you though, since you’re friends of Dorita. I've been taking my meals there for almost two years now."

"Thanks," Jake says, "But we'll take a raincheck on that tour. See you around and we appreciate you helping out."

The four head back to the El Parador. They go through the Cantina and then upstairs to the rooms. The short respite has been helpful to take some of the pressure off of Ruby and ease the tension between them, but there is still a lot that needs to be resolved. They all head over to Jake's room, head inside and shut the door behind them.

Nanuet holds up his hands and clears his throat trying to get the attention of the other three. "Before this goes any further, I have this to add to the money, I only counted it quickly, but it is about $700. I just didn't see a good chance to let everybody know about it until now. I meant to share it with all of you, I swear on it. Oh and here is my $100 from Miss Ruby, add that to the pile."

"Flint gave us some money that he scrounged up and he wants to sell that wagon and use his share of the money for his Ranch. I have no need for the wagon, so I am willing to give up my share for sale. Not sure what you all think. Oh, and Miss Ruby I am glad you came back."

Jake laughs out loud for a moment, and everyone looks at him and Katherine finally says it for them "What is funny." He replies,"We are quite a group that's all. Can't make our mind up if we are guilty or guilt free." Ignoring the varied looks he is getting from the group he continues "Look Nanuet, I believe you. No worries. When it came down to it you acted to save my life, everything else is just gravy." Jake tosses a small packet of money in the pile. "432 dollars. You folks are making me look bad. And we still have all this stuff to go through" he finishes pointing to the bed.

Kate tossed the $100 from Ruby into the pile. It was all she had to add; everything she had taken from the caves was piled in Mr. Gonzales' room. She looked at the others apologetically, then laid her head back against Ruby's shoulder. Her eyelids felt as if she had weights attached to them. Every inch of her seemed caked with sand, and her stomach had changed its mind about wanting to eat. She was having a very difficult time concentrating. "Flint can have my share of any wagon money as well, and whatever cash he threw in too. There's plenty here without that."

Nanuet states,"I am the first to say I am not good with paper money. I certainly feel uncomfortable having this much around though, especially after the scene downstairs. I am sure it won't be long till almost everyone in town knows we have a lot of money. Not sure if there is anything we do to stop the spread of that news. Especially once Chumbley hears what happened. Kate says, "Which means it won't take Deadeye Douglas long to find out who ransacked those caves and come looking. It may not have been his, but I'm sure he'll be feeling entitled.

This has been quite a day so far, I need a drink." Nanuet sighs and leans against the wall. "So, now what do we do?" Kate says, "I don't know, but I don't like the idea of putting this in the bank. Seems they get robbed quite a bit. If we spread it out in several places we would at least have a better chance of not loosing all of it in a robbery. I wish we had our own house, we could bury it beneath the floors or something."

Ruby's been quiet listening to everyone not asking her where she got all that money from. She pushes her hand out over the pile and forces it open to add the money to it. "$157.00 and... $1112.00, that's not counting the $100.00 I left all of you and downstairs at the bar. I'm not going to lie and say I was always going to share it either."

Kate says, "But you're here, and you are sharing it. And not lying about it. Actions speak much louder than words, dear." Nanuet adds "And you did share, even when you weren't planning to ever see any of us again. You left us each $ 100." "Stop trying to make me feel better!" Ruby sighs. "The truth is I'm not used to sharing anything or thinking about anyone but myself. And it's been that way for a long time. And that, "pointing the growing money pile, "is a LOT of money."

She continues, "I'm not going to live with the Whipples watching everything I do. If I wanted that I would have stayed with my parents. But I didn't, I left 4 years ago and never looked back. I can do whatever I want and I like it that way. I don't like people depending on me because then I have to stay when I don't want to or break someone's heart who should have never given it in the first place."

Ruby takes a long pause carefully choosing her words. "Except... for the first time I was actually thinking of all of you and not myself. And I wasn't even gone much more than an hour and I already missed you. And I've only know you for a week! I've never had anyone that gave me a reason to trust them I guess." Ruby sits down on Jake's bed and puts her head in her hands.

Jake takes his hat off and scratches his head looking a bit uncomfortable in the silence. "I think that Katherine is right, we should probably spilt this among us and then each of us keep portions in different places. Actually I'll probably put some in a bank." Jake smiles an ironic smile and says, "Maybe not the one I'm working at."

"And I would agree that we probably made some enemies today. I don't know about Deadeye Douglas as being one, but certainly others. I think Bill Claibourne and his friend could be a problem some day." He takes a step towards Ruby who is still hiding her face, but stops apparently thinking the better of it. Instead he reaches down in the pile of money and plucks out a twenty-dollar bill. "I think some food, a warm bath and a short nap is a good idea before we talk about it any more." With a grin he wave the twenty-dollar bill he says, "I'm buying."

Ruby goes back to her room and throws her stuff back on the floor. She was tired and dirty so a nap and bath sounded great. And a drink would start things off nicely. She sits on the bed for a moment and she sees something there. It was a playing card, the Jack of Spades to be precise. The black print on the spade design is scraped away so that they are almost shiny and whitish in color. She turns it over in her hand and smiles. Then she jumps up, kisses it, pushes it into her bodice and goes back to Jake’s room. She knocks on his door.

Jake is surprised to see Ruby standing there as everyone had just left. She takes a step into his room, takes his hat off his head and starts looking at it. “I forgot to tell you earlier. I think this hat is better than the old one.” She has a huge smile on her face as she puts the hat on her head. “I think it’ll be lucky for you.” "It must be true, I'm feeling luckier already." He puts his hands in his pockets. "So I'll just skip the clever banter and just say I'm glad you decided it's not time to leave just yet."

Ruby starts walking around Jake's room, looking at whatever he's got out. "But you're so good at the clever banter..." Ruby realizes that Jake is being totally serious. "I'm glad too Jake. I don't really know what I was thinking. I just panicked." She pauses picking up something that she isn't really looking at. "And I guess that means you're not mad at me? I would think you more than anyone would understand..."

"No, not mad. Not mad at all." He replies. "We all got our personal demons, I don't know if I understand, just accept." Ruby smiles at Jake as she walks over to him. She stops right in front of him and pulls his hat off her head. "Here's your hat back. I really do think it will be lucky for you." She puts it back on his head and makes sure it's straight. "We should go, Kate and Nanuet are waiting for us."

 

[Silver Moon]

Chapter Forty-seven, “Bath Time”, January 7th, 1882:

Kate took her part of the money and began to hide it around the room. Some inside a hat brim a bit tucked away inside a book, and some folded neatly and tucked behind Tom's picture in its frame. She stopped for a moment and ran her finger over the picture. "I miss you," she said softly.

After a few moments she shook her head and set the frame down. She quickly changed her shirt, tucked her simplest dress in a bag to take to the bathhouse and went downstairs. Nanuet was waiting already, and a few minutes later Ruby and Jake came down. This time when Dorita brought them something to eat, Kate went at it with a will. The sooner it was down, the sooner she could have a bath.

Once they are back together Jake asks "So what is everyone's plan for today?" Having already eaten early Jake is only picking at the food. "After I clean up I WILL have that nap. But after that I have nothing going on until its time for me to run a game at the Lone Start later tonight. If anyone needs me for anything, let me know." He pauses and watches the others dig heartily into their meals. "I already helped myself to some additional weapons and ammunition that their previous owners will no longer need, so what ever is left including the wagon can be sold by whichever of you thinks they can get us a good price for them. I guess you are all in favor of giving Flint the proceeds from the wagon. I want to help him too, but I was going to hold my tongue on that until we saw how much it was worth. Hey, don't look at me like that! A little greed is not a bad thing."

He answers with a boyish grin. Then quietly, "Katherine, Ruby says you two know someone that may be able to help us with the pile of valuable and unusual items. One of you takes charge of that if you don't mind. After we understand what we have better, we can decide what to do with them." He looks around the room nonchalantly. "I would keep any conversation about what happened today quiet between us, the less information others have the better on that. I'm afraid that too much may already be out though." He stops and smiles putting on the confident Silver Jake Cook face. "But don't worry. We will be fine. More than fine."

Kate says,"I'm certainly getting a bath this afternoon, and some sleep. I might just sleep in the bath," she laughed. "After that I was going to see Dorita's grandfather to talk about some of those books I lent him yesterday. Not to worry, though, I won't get carried away and be late."

Kate lifted her napkin to her mouth as she said quietly. "We should be able to get those items looked at this afternoon, but I'm afraid I don't know much about the value of wagons." She took a deep breath as she dabbed at the corners of her mouth with the napkin, then put it down. "I think I'm going to head out for that bath. That is something I'm sure will be fine." She dropped a few coins on the table for the food and smiled over to Ruby. "Gentlemen," she nodded to Nanuet and Jake, picked up her bag, and headed for the door.

Nanuet stretched his neck and back and said "I am going to get myself cleaned up and then head over to the church. I need some time to reflect and reconnect with the spirits. Once we get all the items from the wagon sorted out and know what we want, I will take care of selling it. Flint suggested that one of the silver mines could use it, so I will start there. That however will wait for tomorrow. Ruby, before you go, I need to speak with you about another matter." Nanuet pulls Ruby aside, out of earshot of the others. They have a discussion that looks as though it may continue later. Nanuet looks uneasy and blushes through most of the conversation. He then gathers his stuff and heads out.

Ruby finishes her conversation with Nanuet for the moment and she looks over to Jake. "Are you coming?"
She waits a moment then yells to Kate, "Hey wait for me!" Kate stops by the door and waits for Ruby to catch up. She takes the other girls arm and strolls out into the street.

It is only a short walk down the street to Gilson's BathHouse, situated between Rixton's Furniture and the all too familiar Comstock House. The bathhouse is in a twenty-by-thirty foot two-story brick building. The ladies enter and are greeted by a middle-aged woman who introduces herself as Laurie Gilson. She is assisted by a wood elf named Jules Huerta, who draws the water for the baths. She explains that the price of baths is fifty-cents and that she uses fresh water for every bath and has Jules scrub out each tub between patrons. The first floor is divided up into six different rooms each with two tubs, with a curtain in each room to further subdivide the room for more privacy. Regular soap and the use of towels are included in the price. Specialty soaps and bath oils each cost an additional twenty-five cents.

Back at the El Parador Jake has been sleeping soundly for nearly an hour at this point. As soon as he lay down on his bed he fell into one of the most restful periods of sleep that he had had in years.

Nanuet is heavily in prayer when he has a vision. Before him stand a trio of Native American supreme beings of his same moral code, the Raven God, a greater deity responsible for the creation and transformation of the world; Hotoru, a lesser god responsible for the wind and weather of the world; and the Thunder Bird, a mystical creature that fights evil created by human or elf. The two birds fly in a circle surrounding Nanuet while Hotoru speaks to him. Nanuet is told that he has been tested and found to be worthy. They say that his training as a shaman will begin that evening, that following his evening meal he is to return to where he had slept the previous night and the two who will guide him on this path of discovery will then join him.

Jules brings Kate and Ruby to one of the 6 rooms. Ruby barely waits for Jules to leave before she gets undressed. She takes various items out of her bodice, casually tossing them on the nearest table. The items include money, a derringer, keys and a playing card (which she is a bit more careful with). She drops her dress and undergarments to the floor, stepping on them a few times and leaving them crumpled on the floor in a ball. She gets into the tub, leans back and closes her eyes. When she doesn’t hear any noise coming from Katherine she opens her eyes. Kate quickly grabbed the curtain and pulled as Ruby stripped. She was still unbraiding her hair when she heard Ruby sliding into her own tub. A moment later Ruby called out, “What are you waiting for? I though you wanted a bath!”

"It takes a minute to get my hair loose," she answered as she finally slid gratefully down into the scented water and breathed deep. Kate washed her hair with the special soap first and then let it hang behind the tub as she soaked.

It was probably ten minutes before she spoke. "Ruby, will you do something for me tonight? When you can, keep an eye on Tom Whipple. I don't want to tell you why, if I do you might imagine what I'm looking for. I thought I noticed something, and I want to know if it was just my imagination." “Sure Kate, I can watch him. I can see things fairly well from the stage. But you’ve got me very curious. What could you be imagining about Tom Whipple?” Ruby pauses. “I wonder what they’re going to say when we tell them we’re not moving in.” Ruby takes in a huge breath. “I can’t believe they are relying on us so much. That isn’t very wise, don’t you think?”

"I don't know that they are relying on us so much. It seems the addition was just to make room for us. It was a big assumption that we would stay so long as to need or want rooms. But I imagine when someone comes looking for work, you imagine they plan to stay a while. I don't know how to tell Maggie that we don't want to stay there. It's sweet of her to want us, and I hate to turn her down. I have felt a bit guilty about staying at the El Parador. You saw how many people were looking for rooms. I'm human; I could get a room anywhere. I feel like I'm taking a room someone else could use. Still, I'd rather buy a house."

Ruby's knuckles tighten on the side of the tub. "Buy a house?" she says slowly. Was Kate referring to all of them buying a house? "Kate, when you say buy a house..." Her thoughts are interrupted by gunshots. There are three shots and they come from somewhere outside of the building and to the west. Laurie knocks on the door and tells them, "Don't let those sounds bother you. People shoot off guns around here all the time. I'll have Jules go check it out." "Good lord, can't we get away from gun shots today?" Ruby was clearly stressed out. "I think I need some sleep... sleep and lots of liquor."

Kate replies, "As long as they aren't shooting as us, I'm not getting out of this tub. And I'd try the sleep before the liquor, hmm? I hope my share is enough. Although I don't really feel I earned it. I can't live in a hotel forever, and I can't be under the same roof as.... Well, I miss having a house," she finished lamely. "Of course, if you wanted to live there, you could, but it would be up to you. And depending on the house, Jake and Nanuet too, but there would have to be a way to keep them separate. Otherwise it would be completely inappropriate."

Ruby didn’t know if she should laugh or cry. Kate wanted to tie them all down and she was worried about it being inappropriate. Ruby thought it over. If she really wanted to leave then why didn’t she earlier? She didn’t want to leave any of them, she learned that today. Maybe a house was a good thing? Ruby wasn’t signing on any dotted line any time soon but she would at least think about it. She says, “Of course you earned your share. You got us all there. And you are right about not living in a hotel forever. I’m sure you had a real nice house with Tom and living in the Cantina with us has to be hard on you. You deserve a nice place Kate. So, who is going to look after this house?” "I don't know," Kate sighed, sinking further into the water. "It's just a dream, I guess. I like the Cantina, I feel at home there. I don't know what I was thinking."

Ruby replies,"Dreams are good to have Kate. We all need them. And if yours is a house then I'm sure you're going to get it one day." Ruby gets out of the tub and gets dressed. "We'd better get back if we want some time to rest." Ruby realizes she forgot to bring clean clothes so puts back on her crumpled dress. "I'll only have it on a few minutes until I can get to sleep anyway," she thinks. Ruby puts her wet hair up into some kind of knot and puts all her belongings back in her dress. "Almost ready?"

Kate had gotten regretfully out of the tub, but she felt wonderfully clean. She tried to get her corset on as quickly as possible and slipped into her clean dress. "Yes, I'm ready," she said, leaving her wet hair loose behind her head to dry. "I'm certainly ready for a nap." She pulled back the curtain and took Ruby's arm. "I'm glad you decided to come back, Ruby," she said simply as they left the room.

The sound of gunshots had awaken Jake from his restful slumber. He lofted the curtain and looks out the window of his room and based upon the position of the sun concludes that it is around 3:00 P.M. He doesn’t hear any more gunshots so he lies back down on the bed and goes back to sleep.

Meanwhile, five miles northeast of Promise City…It was time for the prospectors to head to town. Since they were also afraid of claim jumpers moving in their absence and stealing their ore MacNaulty and Seawell agreed to stay behind to guard the site. Elliott and Lewis climbed up onto the buckboard of the wagon and began to make their way towards the town. The wagon contained more than a ton of rocks and the aged horses had to struggle to get the wagon started off. As the animals’ exertion became more obvious Elliott started to wonder if they had the strength to make the five miles to town. He handed the reins to Lewis and climbed out to not only lighten the load but also help to lead the animals. “This is going to be a long trip,” he thought to himself.

 

[Silver Moon]

Chapter Forty-eight, “The Mystery of the Missing Books”, January 7th, 1882:

The women are told to come back again any time by Laurie. They exit the building and see that there is a lot of activity a half block west down the street. A crowd has gathered around a two-story wooden building at the northwest corner of South and Allen streets with the sign "Trail Dust Saloon" hanging out front. They see Marshall Wyatt Earp standing near the door of the building being talked at by the reporter Parker Baxter. A man carrying a doctor's bag then approaches and is let inside. As they approach the crowd Ruby laughs, "I wonder what happened here? At least it didn't involve us."

When Ruby sees Baxter she remembers the last time she saw him. Suddenly a flood of memory comes back to her. She had totally forgotten about the information she found out yesterday about Tom. Katherine could tell Ruby was uncomfortable and gives her a look. Ruby tries to cover her sudden emotion. She puts her hand on Kate's arm. "Um, I forgot to tell you something. Ah, Baxter thinks that Jake and I are married. Mr. and Mrs. Cookie actually. I mean, it's a long story and we don't really have the time right now..." Crap, thinks Ruby. I hope she doesn't think something strange is going on.

Kate laughed outright. "I think I'd actually pay money to hear how he come to that conclusion." She ignored Ruby's discomfort. Ruby hadn't confided to her anything about Jake, and she wouldn't assume she was right unless Ruby did. "Of course, Baxter seems to live in his own Whiskey-soaked world." Ruby replies, "Yes, sometime I'll have to let you in on what happened."

As they came up on the crowd Katherine kept her ears open for details of what happened. "Picking up anything, Ruby?" Ruby tries to listen to the crowd, but she especially wants to overhear what Marshall Earp is telling Baxter. And they hear Wyatt Earp saying "....damned fool. All I asked him about was the money he owed to the Promise City Merchants' Association. Hell Baxter, you belong to that group. Not fair for him to shirk on his dues, cost the rest of you more. Well, the idiot actually decides to pull a gun on me!"

Baxter says "But Doc Eaton is here now. You actually let him live?" Earp replies "Damned straight. He owes money to the Merchants' Association. A dead man usually doesn't pay his obligations. My first shot was just to disarm him. I hit his gun hand but he still managed to still get off a shot. Had no choice then but to incapacitate his arm." Baxter says "So what happens now." Earp says "Well, in most towns shooting at a lawman is a capital offense. But I'm an easy going and generous man. Once the Doc fixes him up I think a month or so in jail might just teach him to respect the law. Of course, it's not really up to me. I'll let Judge Isby make that decision, I'm expecting him to be back in town on Monday."

"Well, at least we know Job won't have to sit in jail too much longer," Kate whispered to Ruby. "But Earp seem rather vicious, doesn't he? I wonder who he shot..." Ruby, in her usual directness, asks a man in the crowd "Who got shot?" The man replies "Dudley Yeats, the owner of the Trail Dust Saloon." Ruby and Kate keep walking slowly past the crowd, listening for any other information. Truthfully they were both exhausted and just wanted to get back to the Cantina for a nap. "I can always talk to Baxter later if I need to," thinks Ruby. They get back and go to their rooms.

Ruby takes off her dirty dress, leaving it crumpled on the floor again, gets under the covers and falls right asleep. Down the hall Kate pulled off the dress and her corset, and slipped under the covers in just her sheer shift. Her eyes fell on the picture on her bedside table. She picked it up and fell asleep holding it against her heart.

Shortly after 6:00 PM there is a knock at each of Ruby and Katherine's doors and Dorita's voice says "Girls, my Grandfather is waiting for you." Both dress and head over to his room. They knock and the door is opened. "Please come in" he states. They enter the room and are shocked by what they see, as there isn't a single book in sight. Kate eyes grew wide and her mouth fell open. Slowly her head turned from one end of the room to the other. "M-M-Mister Gonzales, where are the books?" she stammered, wringing her hands.

A female voice from behind them states, "They are in the safest place in town, somewhere that no one can get to them unless they are supposed to be able to get to them. Sonoma slips in behind the women and closes the door behind her looking at her great grandfather with a smile on her face. "You brought back a huge treasure with you in that wagon you know."

Yes, I know," Kate said, taking a few deep breaths. "Although I got a few put upon looks from the men as they hauled them down. Books are always a treasure." She moved further into the room and took a seat. "I had just hoped to, well, it will be difficult for me to read them if they aren't here."

"Ahh so my little bird thinks that I have taken her treasures out of her nest" the old man looks at her with a smile on his face. "The books are still here. It is up to you to see if you can find them. Consider this the first part of what I will teach you, you have until I finish the chapter I am reading." And he settles back in a handmade rocking chair covered with a bright woven blanket and picks up the book from his lap.

Kate felt better knowing the books were still here, in some sense at least. Kate looked at the old gentleman and his serene countenance. He would watch over his book, but he wouldn't answer questions. Well, all right. He'd obviously hidden them with magic. They must still be here, but the room had been stuffed to the rafters with them. She thought about how books smelled, the clean scent of paper, the crinkle of pages, the yellowish color and musty aroma of an ancient tome. She stood up and began to walk around the room, her fingers gently tracing the walls when she could reach them. She looked for anything that had not been in the room before, and then closed her eyes for a moment. "Show me," she thought to herself. She focused every sense and feeling the books.

Jake rises leisurely and listens to the relative quiet for a bit before getting out of bed. Before getting dressed he meticulously cleans and oils his Colt then replaces the empty bullet slots on the belt. He dons some clean clothes and examines the pile of items that has been sharing the room with him. He decides to put on the leather duster and carry the items with him in various places on his person until the ladies can take possession and figure out what to do with it. He heads down to the local store to purchase a couple of replacement button down shirts for the one that took a bullet earlier today. He unconsciously examines his wrist again while the purchase is being wrapped up.

He then heads back to the cantina to wait for the others to appear, and to listen in on the locals’ conversation. Gun shots meant gossiping and it shouldn't be too hard to figure out what happened earlier. Hopefully it would have nothing to do with him, but Promise City had a strange way of not caring about whether or not you wanted to be involved. He had an uneasy feeling again. He takes an empty table with his back to a wall and plays with a deck of cards to pass the time.

Ruby has no idea what Gonzales is asking Kate to do. How the heck was she supposed to find the books on her own like that? Ruby had more important things on her mind. After their walk had brought back the information about Tom, Ruby knew she needed to do something about it. It has upset her so much the previous day that she drank herself silly. Poor Kate.

“Um, Mr. Gonzales, I truly appreciate the offer to teach us, and I really do want to learn but I have something on my mind and I just need to take care of it quickly. I’ll be right back.” Ruby excuses herself and leaves Kate to find the books. She goes to Jake’s room and gets no response at the door. Maybe he was still sleeping? She decided to look downstairs before breaking into his room. She gets downstairs and sees Jake at the table in the corner. She smiles when she sees him playing with his cards.

“Hi, Jake. Hope you enjoyed your nap?” She sits down at the table next to him. “Listen; do you remember yesterday when I told you what I found out about Tom? I think we have to go to Tombstone and find out if any of it is true. I don’t want to tell Kate anything until we know something for sure. What do you think?”

Though Jake is listening and looking Ruby in the eyes he continues to shuffle the cards and deals out two hands of poker. "I agree. I'm not too happy about getting up early tomorrow, but I guess if we take the stage I can sleep on the way." Ruby looks at her cards, smiles and say "Maybe your lucky hat rubbed off on me." as she turns over four queens and a ten. "There are times when you should leave things to luck," Jake replies turning over four aces and the jack of spades, "and times when you shouldn't." There is only a hint of a smile on his face. "But the stage won't give us much time there, only an hour. And that would assume that Miss Big Nose and contrary Mr. Earp will be around during that hour." He gathers up the cards and shuffles some more. "You feel lucky?"

“You like the Jack of Spades don’t you?” Ruby says while unconsciously touching her bodice. “I think we’re going to need the sleep on the stage, I’m still pretty tired even after my nap and I’m sure tonight will be busy at the Saloon.” Ruby pauses. “We’ll find them Jake, we have to.” Ruby looks at her cards. “Now we need something to tell Kate. I’m sure she can be entertained with her new books. If she can find them…And Nanuet will look after her I’m sure.”

Ruby, smiling, throws down her hand, a full house, queens over eights. “Did I mention queens are my favorite card?” she says slyly, with a gleam in her eye. “Now as for feeling lucky, I’m still here aren’t I? But I have a feeling you make your own luck, Mr. Cooke.”

"Well, my little Sandpiper, what have you ascertained?" Gonzales asks of Katherine. She shook her head. "You've hidden them with magic, of course. Illusion seems unlikely, since we would still be tripping over them. So they must be here somehow, but not here. As if there is a door to reach though. But I don't know how to sense them."

"Very good," he replies. And although the doorway is indeed magical, it does not require a spell to find and open. However, you must be one with an affinity to use wizard magics. That is why Sonoma can find me in my other home while Dorita and Pedro cannot.”

Sonoma states "You thought out the problem well, but you did one thing wrong. You discounted the possibility of others having the knowledge and didn't ask for help. My great grandfather may not have answered questions for you, but you never tried to ask and I was not under any restrictions to assist you in any way. So I could have helped you. The first lesson I was taught is that alone you are alone and are limited by your own mind and skills. Everyone and everything has something to offer if you find a way to ask."

"I think my lesson is just a bit different," Kate said with a slight smile. "I did not discount that you would know how to find it, Sonoma. I made an assumption that it was a task I was to complete alone, and assumptions are foolish. When I was in school, asking for help on such an assignment would have been strictly against the rules. I have always depended on the skills of others to help me, and it is a struggle to stand on my own. When I suddenly found myself alone, I was lost." Her eyes took on a faraway look. "I'm tired of being alone," she whispered.

Gonzales continues, “To go to the other place one needs to merely know the correct magical words, one to make it visible, the other to allow it to open. Like everything else in life, without first speaking the correct words you will never find what you seek.

Now one secret to any type of magical incantation is to make sure that somebody does not say it by accident and discover your secrets. The key there is pick words in a language unknown to those of the area or that somebody searching would think to use. For example, I would never use words in either English or Spanish, as those are the primary languages of this area. Similarly, if someone were attempting to find a 'magical door' they might try words from the languages of other pro-magic countries, such as French or Portuguese.

Now back when I was in Texas I would often use words from either the Gaelic or Russian languages. That would not work for here in Promise City. My granddaughter often has dwarves staying at the Cantina. The dwarven Vikings made homelands of all the north European nations from Iceland to Russia, so those languages could potentially be known and spoken by a guest of the hotel. I now use a language taught to me by a member of a race that seldom leaves their home so is known by only a few. It is the language spoken by the gnomes who inhabit the Pacific island of Hawaii."

He stands and walks to the center of one wall of the room and exclaims "Mahalo Nui Loa". A stone arched doorway appears with a large oaken door in the center of it. The doorknob consists mostly of a large orb that appears to be made of cut crystal or perhaps even a diamond.

"Oh my," Kate said softly, reaching out to lightly touch the oak. "And this is the door to your other home." She backed up, thinking perhaps he would not want her so close to the door. "The must be more to it than just the words. But you said if someone can stumble upon the right ones, anyone could open it. But for some things just knowing the words would not work, is that correct? For some things you must have the affinity?"

He replies, "There are no constants. Some magicial devices could be used by anyone. For example, anyone....or at least anyone could wear that magical protection coat that your associate Jake was wearing when you arrived back this morning tall enough. Other magical devices can only be used by types of people or in some cases a specific individual. I have placed magical protections on this doorway, but any of my "little birds" would be able to access them just as I can."

A half-hour earlier Nanuet had waken from his reverie and ponders the vision. He is excited and nervous about the possibility of being given the powers of a shaman. He had always spent his life alone, since his abilities to form bonds with animals and his skills as a scout had been developed he had been alone. Always alone in the mountains and desert, scouting. Scouting was a lonely job, something he took to and enjoyed up until now. Even when he worked on the ranches he had always been solitary, when he worked guarding the wagons he was alone. Now he had companions and had been through more with them in the last week then he had been through in many years. Being a shaman meant helping and guiding people. It meant no longer being alone. As he ponders that a face enters his thoughts. A young beautiful wood elf, caring and kind. A sweet girl that he thought held some secrets. Some secrets that he wished to discover. Sonoma. A beautiful name for a beautiful girl.

Nanuet left the church and began wandering the outskirts of town. He used his knowledge of the area to head to the best spot where flowers would be growing. He spends the rest of the afternoon picking a bouquet of the best flowers he can find and heads back to the El Parador. Nanuet enters the El Parador. If anyone looked closely they would see that he was cleaned up, his hair freshly braided, the grime washed from his skin, his fingernails clean. He sees Jake and Ruby playing cards and starts to turn away and takes a step back. He takes a deep breath and walks over to them.

"Everybody feel better now?" he asks, but doesn't wait for a reply. "Have either of you seen Sonoma around? I uh, er, I wanted to see her for a moment." Dorita sees how he has cleaned himself up and the flowers in his hand. She smiles and says "I believe that my daughter is with her great-grandfather along with your friend Katherine. She may be a while but I will let her know that somebody is waiting for her here. Why don't you have a seat. "

"Well, look at you! You took some of my advice I see," Ruby says while looking at the flowers in his hand. "Sonoma is upstairs getting a lesson right now. Whoops, I'm supposed to be there too. I have to run! I'll tell her you were looking for her." Ruby gets up from the table and looks at Jake. "I hope we can finish our game later..." She hurries in the direction of the stairs. "Oh and tell Nanuet what's going on!"

Nanuet smiles weakly at Dorita. "Thank you very much. I will wait right here. There is no rush, I can wait." Nanuet sits near his friend Jake and pretends to be taking an interest in poker while trying to find a place to wipe the sweat from his hands. "Oh!" Nanuet says as he spins around trying to talk to Ruby while she is still in the room "Uh I guess I will still just wait here. And thanks for the advice!" he yells after the red headed blur that spurts past him.

He looks over at Jake, pulls up a chair and says "She is something else, not sure where she finds her energy." He puts the flowers down and says "So, what is going on, and how do you play this poker game of yours?" Jake replies “My wise friend, when you figure out where she gets that energy I will be your student." Jake gathers up the cards and just shuffles them without dealing. "I doubt you would concentrate on poker right now, so let me tell you what's going on."

Jake shares the story of Marshall Earp's strange behavior, Chumbley's refusal and admittance, plus the names they have to see in Tombstone. "We were wondering if you could help us distract Katherine tomorrow and keep an eye on her while Ruby and I go to Tombstone for the day and see if there is anything to this beyond suspicions. We really don't want to open those deep wounds if there is nothing to it." He stops shuffling for a moment, leans in and looks Nanuet in the eye. "I'll admit that I tend to see the worst side of people frequently enough, and maybe I am just too suspicious." He sits back in his chair and starts to shuffle again and says, "What do you think?"

He replies, "I think that the Marshall is a dangerous man, one to keep on our side as much as we can. I think you are doing a good thing by investigating in Tombstone and I will keep Katherine occupied tomorrow, but I will not lie to her. I think I need a drink before Sonoma comes down here." Nanuet smiles easily for the first time in a while as he tries to get Dorita's attention to have some drinks brought over. Jake says, "Remember, we are trying to spare Katherine pain. So let me share some Jake wisdom, there is a difference between lying and withholding pertinent truths."

 

[Silver Moon]

Chapter Forty-nine, “Manuel’s Magnificent Mansion”, January 7th, 1882:

At the sound of the knock Manuel smiles and says, "Ah, my golden eagle has returned from her search" prior to going to the door and opening it to let Ruby back into the room. Ruby steps in and immediately notices the stone archway over the oak door that wasn't there before. "Thanks..." Her voice trails off, as her eyes grow wide at the sight of the huge doorway. "Oh my..." Ruby smiles at Kate. "I guess you found your books!" It was a moment before Kate answered. "What? Oh, no, I didn't. But that is where they are." Gonzales replies "We were just waiting for your return before entering."

He approaches the door and makes a quick hand gesture while saying the words "Aloha Ahiahi". He then places his hand on the orb and turns it. The door opens out into another chamber. "Please follow me" he states. It only took a moment for Kate's natural curiosity to overcome her melancholy. "Of course," she smiled toward Ruby and headed into the room.

Oh Kate how exciting!" Ruby takes her hand and they follow the old man. She leans over to Sonoma and whispers, "Have you been in here before? Oh and I think Nanuet is waiting for you downstairs. He would like to talk to you I think." She gives Sonoma a knowing smile. Sonoma nods yes to Ruby's question and does not show any response to the second part of her comment.

Ruby and Katherine are amazed with what they see before them. They enter a great hall, forty feet wide and sixty feet long with an arched ceiling nearly fifty feet high in the center. The room is lit by magical light. The walls and floor are all made of the finest marble stone while the beams and ceiling are made of the same sturdy oak as the door. Each side wall has a pair of stone archways with wooden doors similar to the one that they entered from. At the far end of the room is an elaborate fountain made of the same marble. The center of the fountain has a statue of a naked female wood elf holding a pitcher, from which the water flows out and down. The simple furnishings of the room do not match the splendor of the building, consisting of a rickety old wooden table and a half dozen unmatched cheaply made chairs.

They stepped into a place that Kate would not have imagined in her wildest dreams. She had seen fine homes, huge buildings, but they didn't compare to this. Kate turned as she walked, trying to take it all in at once. Finally she looked at the old man. "You show a great deal of trust in us to show us this," she said sincerely. "Thank you." And soon after, because her curiosity often came over her, "Where is this place? Or is that even the right question?"

He replies "You are indeed intelligent to have deduced this. The location of this castle is actually on another plane of existence. As for a level of trust, what is there not to trust? Most of what you see is a permanent part of the structure. Nothing in this place can be taken from it except for things brought into it from the outside. And while I have showed you how to enter this place there is far more that I have not shown to you, so the secrets of this castle are still safe with me. I will tell you this though, the magic is in the orb itself, which is how I was able to transport the doorway from Texas to here. The orb has cast upon it a powerful spell, Merlin's Magnificent Mansion, which is the building you see before you."

Kate says it is indeed magnificent. And fascinating." She walked over to Manuel Gonzales and took his hand. "I wish to learn whatever you will teach me, and probably more. It's as if there is a whole other world I never suspected." Ruby is speechless as she looks around. The old man was right when he said he was a powerful wizard. Finally, with a gulp, "Did you say another plane of existence?" She smiled over to Ruby. "And yes, I'd like to understand what you mean by another plane of existence as well."

He says "It's too early in all of your training for you to fully comprehend, but essentially this castle exists somewhere other than earth itself, which is why it could be reached just as easily from Arizona as Texas. No matter where the orb is the door can be created to access the building.

There are four other rooms off from this one. Each of them is also large, approximately half the size of this room, but with a lower ceiling. One is my personal bedchamber, another is my study, the third is my magic room and the last is the library. The library was rather sparse up until today with but a few dozen volumes. Now almost half of the bookcases are filled." "And the books we found? Were they anything special? I couldn't really tell..." Ruby gets embarrassed and flushed. Kate notices her discomfort and says “I couldn't either, Ruby dear. The volumes in English were histories. I didn't get to look at many of the French volumes. The other languages I can't read."

Manuel replies "A bit early to tell, I've barely had a chance to check them out. I should be able to read all of them though, each is in a language I am proficient in. I found at least one with magical script, there may be more." "That's a great many languages to know," Kate said surprised. "Perhaps you could teach me some of them. And speaking of teaching, I believe we still have some of our hour left...."

Manuel takes them into his magic room. It is thirty by forty feet with a twenty foot high ceiling. Like the main room, the furnishings are sparse and consist of old wooden tables and chairs that are close to falling apart. Three tables are filled with glass vials and beakers with various colored liquids. Two more tables are covered with books and scrolls. The far wall has built-in marble bookcases, most of which have various plants and jars stacked upon them. He brings them over to a corner of the room where he has set three chairs and asks them to sit.

He then spends the next half-hour teaching them the spell "Prestidigitation". He explains that this is traditionally one of the first spells taught to novice spellcasters. It essentially enables the person to perform simple magical effects for an hour. The spell cannot cause physical harm to an individual and that any effects of the spell will only last for an hour. He then has Katherine practice the spell.

Katherine nodded and focused her mind. The gestures were not complicated, and she thought she had the pronunciations of the words correct. 'Be confident," she thought to herself, 'it will work.' The words rolled off her tongue as if they were the most natural things to say. She didn't shout, but each word was carefully enunciated and her gestures flowed from one to the next. After she completed the required words and movements she focused her will on creating a glowing ball of blue light above her hand.

Ruby watches as the old elf shows them the spell. She is quite astonished to realize that she can already do the same things the spell can do. She says, "How can I do these things, Mr. Gonzales? I've never studied a spell before?" "Oh, you've studied", he replies, "You are a living study of human nature. An imaginative and open mindset is the secret to learning magic, and you already have that." With this he concludes the lesson and suggests that they return to their friends, adding "And I believe I heard mention that somebody is waiting to talk to you Sonoma." Ruby giggles at mention of this. "Sonoma, you must be nice to him, he is trying very hard!" At approximately 7:15 PM the three women exit the inter-dimensional castle and then the old wood elf's hotel room.

While Jake and Nanuet are sitting there a pair of men enter the building, namely Little Joe and Hoss Cartwright. They spot the two and head over to the table. "I'm glad we found you here," Joe says. "Greetings Little Joe, Hoss. Join us in a drink?" "Glad too." Joe says. Pleasantries are exchanged and Hoss makes a short joke at Nanuet's expense about his 'clean and fresh' appearance. Jake says "So, we didn't expect to see you two back in town so soon. Why were you looking for us?"

Joe replies, "We didn't expect to be back here now either. We managed to get the cattle to the Lazy S Ranch around three hours ago. That's where we're temporarily staying. We weren't there but ten minutes when this annoying halfling newspaperman shows up at the ranch and wants to ask us questions. Seems he was sharing a stagecoach ride from Promise City to Tombstone along with the Sheriff's Deputy that our brother Adam had talked to. The deputy mentioned where we were staying and the halfling had the stage drop him off there as it was riding bye.

It only took a few minutes of listening to the halfling for us to realize that the deputy assumed it was just us who were involved with shutting down the rustling operation. So before we went and mentioned your involvement we thought it best to check first with you. We're from out of the Territory, but you guys live around here, so we wouldn't want you to get in trouble for helping us out. The ranch owner, Emery Shaw, kept the little man occupied while Hoss and I rode off to come here." "Well, thanks for asking" Jake chimes in before Nanuet can say anything, "actually I would rather have my name left out. And of course it would be safer for the ladies that way." Nanuet listens to Jake then says "I have to agree, it is safer for all of us that way. And on that other note, I get your gist about not letting the whole cat out of the bag."

Little Joe then asks "So, what is there to do in this town? Looks like we'll be staying here for a couple of nights. Adam got us rooms over at the Promise City Hotel and Cafe. I'd have preferred the Palace Saloon, but he's an old married man now so I guess he needs somewhere quieter." Nanuet says, "Well the ladies and Jake work over at the Lone Star saloon. Ruby puts on quite a show I hear and Jake plays cards. I have to take care of something right after dinner so I won't be there tonight. Maybe you want to head over there with them?"

The girls head downstairs where they find Nanuet, Jake, Hoss and Little Joe sitting around the table drinking and playing cards. Ruby exclaims, "My, my, what are you two doing here? Well, never mind you are here and we are due for dinner at the Lone Star. You are more than welcome to join us. I'm sure you'll enjoy yourselves there." Ruby turns to Jake. "It has been a while since I played in a serious card game. I'm afraid I might be getting rusty. If you have an empty spot when I'm on break do you mind if I join in?"

"Well it is a serious card game, at least to the patrons who join. You are welcome as far as I am concerned, but if you prove to be too much of a distraction for the other gamblers I may have to ask you to excuse yourself. Give me 5 minutes to change and we can go over." Good to his word Jake is back with a nicely pressed tailored shirt and goes with them all to the Lone Star.

Kate excused herself from downstairs and ran back up to her room to change her dress. She had decided on yellow this evening. After her bath and the lesson she felt very clean and light, and the darkly colored dress she had worn that afternoon just wouldn't do. The yellow had a low, square neckline that gave the illusion of being revealing without actually being so. The bustle was of puffed, layered folds, but did not have a train to drag behind and get caught. The front was very flat, with just a drape of fabric under the waist for decoration. Most importantly, she fastened the magical pillow around her waist and turned the gem. Finally, Kate brushed her hair and tied a yellow ribbon around her head to hold it back from her face. It was still a bit damp, and she didn't like to put it up wet.

If she was lucky, she had imagined all the business with Tom Whipple. Even if she had not, she would not let fear of him dictate her dress. She dreaded telling Maggie they would not be taking the rooms more. Kate suspected that Maggie was rather lonely, and the only family she had were those in her employ. Kate sighed and went back downstairs to the others. "I'm sorry for the delay. Are you all ready to go?"

Hoss says that he'll head back to the Promise City Hotel and Cafe to get Adam and meet up with the others. Little Joe comments about how beautiful both Ruby and Katherine look. At approximately 7:30 PM. The four head off to the Lone Star leaving Sonoma and Nanuet back at the El Parador. Nanuet waits until the others head off to the Lone Star before getting out of his seat. He slowly approaches Sonoma as she is busy straightening chairs and tables.

"Hello Sonoma, you... well... uh you look very nice today, er I mean tonight. I saw these and I wanted to bring them here for you." Nanuet holds a large bouquet of flowers in outstretched hands that are slightly shaking. "I thought you might like them, these ones here are especially rare." he says pointing to one of the types of flowers. She replies, “Why thank you. It's not often that someone I've known for a little over a day gives me flowers.” Sonoma smiles sweetly at Nanuet and places the flowers in a brown ceramic pitcher behind the bar. “I think your friends all went out to have some supper before Ruby performs tonight.”

Nanuet relaxed a little, but he still couldn't figure what to do with his hands. First on his hips, then his sides and finally clasped behind him. "Yes, I know they went out. I will not be joining them. I will just take my evening meal here tonight and then retire back to the loft if you don't mind. Maybe sometime when you have a chance I can show you were I found those rare flowers?"

Sonoma looks like she is about to reply to Nanuet's invitation when she gets called away. "Have to get back to work." she says with a polite smile. Nanuet nods and says "OK, then you can get me some supper when you have a chance. I'll just be sitting over here. Nanuet watched Sonoma scuttle away and tried to turn his mind to what was in store for him after his evening meal. He tried to clear his mind and heart to prepare himself for the nights events.

 

[Silver Moon]

Interlude Three: "At a Mexican Inn"

Meanwhile, Approximately 450 miles south of Promise City……Four horses had tied up outside of the largest Inn in the town of Guaymas, Mexico, a port town along the Pacific Ocean. The strategic location of the port had made it a place where the humans from Spain had once decided to establish operations. The conquerors also felt that they needed a show of force when they ruled the region in the eighteenth century. They had been merciless to the wood elves living there, treating them as no more than slaves and forcing most of the elves to move cargo for the Spanish Governor without compensation. The Spanish left in the early 1800’s, but the town was occupied again by United States naval forces during the Mexican-American war. Those humans were as cruel to native wood elves as the Spanish had been and almost half the town was destroyed during the short occupation.

The wood elves had long memories and this was the cause of the current difficulties for the four men attempting to get lodgings. Of the four, one was a wood elf and two were half-elves, but the root of the problem was their human companion. The innkeeper had held a grudge against all humans for the damage done to his building by both the Spanish and Americans and refused to accommodate the four with rooms. The four had been riding hard for most of the last three days and wanted to stop for a much needed respite for both themselves and their animals.

One of the half-elves suggested that his three companions wait outside. After they stepped out he began a long story of woe, explaining that the human was his poor down-on-his-luck cousin and would do no harm to the building. He also pointed out that the human was neither Spanish or American, he was British. None of that mattered to the innkeeper. It was only when the half-elf offered the man three times the going price for a room to compensate for the ‘inconvenience’ that the innkeeper was willing to comply.

The four first made sure that their mounts were properly secured, fed and watered before they gathered up their supplies and saddlebags and headed up to the two large adjoining rooms. Carlos Wyman, the half-elf who had managed to secure the rooms, was angry at how they were treated. “This is unfair!” he exclaimed. “After what our families have done for Latin America we should all be welcomed here as heroes. We should not have to fabricate tales or pay bribes just to obtain a place to stay.”

The elf Antonio Jose de Sucre stated “You know why we must travel in secret. Many of the Mexican warlords remain in collusion with Spain. Carlos, your father fought bravely alongside the wood elves in the wars for independence against the Spaniards” and gesturing to the human says, “as did Miller’s uncle. If we were turned over to the Spanish the punishments to both of you would be harsh." He then gestures to the other half-elf in the room and says “But it is I and our President who have the most to fear if we are to be caught. We would surely be tortured and then killed.”

That half-elf turns and approaches the others. He has a serious look on his face and walks with the stride of a gentleman rather than the solider that he had once been. He states “Carlos, William, General Sucre speaks wisely. We have several more days ride ahead of us until we reach the United States and it is best if we travel in animosity.” He then turns to the elf and says “Antonio, that title which you have just addressed me is no longer accurate. It has been nearly half a century since I last held the office of President, in fact you held that title more recently than I have.” The wood elf smiles at his life-long friend and companion and replies, “Very well, I will no longer address you by that title General Bolivar.”

 

[Silver Moon]

Chapter Fifty, “Just Getting Ready”, January 7th, 1882:

Jake, Katherine, Ruby and Little Joe arrive at the Lone Star, which currently has three-dozen patrons. Tony has a five players seated at his table, including Ned Walters, and has already started a game.

Six players are currently seated at Job Kane’s table, five men and a woman. Two of these are Neil Cassidy and Al Brower, each seated in their usual places. Jake reminds himself that Brower owns the gunshop in Promise City and makes a mental note to talk to him later about the hand-cannon that they acquired. Of the other four people seated Jake recognizes a pair dressed as ranchers who were present at the Lone Star the night before where they had been spectators of the game at his table. Both are wearing gun belts with revolvers. Another man is attired in a blue pinstriped suit, a red-checkered-print shirt and a solid red bow tie. He has long reddish brown sideburns that are staring to gray but is otherwise clean-shaven. On his belt is a holster with an old-style cap and ball pistol.

The woman looks to be in her late thirties and is wearing a navy blue skirt, white ruffled shirt and a leather vest dyed a royal blue. A fair-sized gray hat with a white bow and blue feathers on the bow sits atop of her head. Jake’s nose detects an odd scent coming from her, not perfume, more of a smell like you’d find in turpentine or kerosene. Her hands appear to belong to somebody who works for a living, with short fingernails and a few calluses. She has no visible weapons.

Katherine and Ruby focus their attention at a man seated on the piano bench and placing some sheet music on the piano. He is tall and rail thin, clean cut, with short blonde hair parted in the middle and wearing a pair of wire rimmed eyeglasses. He has on a suit that hasn't been in style since the 1850's, with an ascot rather than a tie. The sleeves of his white silk shirt are fastened with cufflinks. His fingers are long and delicate looking.

Maggie motions them over to one of the four-person dining tables and says "Have a seat your steaks will be right up. And don't complain about not having time. We're still waiting for one more of your players Jake and we have other entertainment for the next half hour." With that she nods to the man at the piano who begins playing Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto Number One. Kate listened to the music with pleasure. She had never expected to hear Tchaikovsky here, but she was beginning to expect surprises. It was a shame that she worked when Flossie McKenna sang. Kate doubted she would be singing tomorrow night when Kate had the time to go listen to her.

The man was an excellent pianist, and although Kate enjoyed listening to him, it made her a little sad. She watched his fingers move smoothly over the keys. "I don't think I'll be trying any classical music tonight," she said to the others. "I'd rather not try to follow that. But perhaps Maggie will let me come in tomorrow and play just for myself."
Ruby replies, “Oh, I’m sure she will Kate. That would be a nice break for you to do something different…”

Ruby gives Jake the go-along-with-it look he is getting accustomed to. “Some peace and alone time sounds wonderful, no? I must admit that sounds good to me too. And tomorrow would be a good day for it…” Ruby pinches Jake on the leg and he mumbles some agreement under his breath. Jake choose a seat where he can see the table his will be playing at while talking to the others. "So Little Joe, tell us about your ranch." Jake nods and smiles, but he really isn't listening to Little Joe Cartwright. He is busy watching the faces actions and mannerisms of the people at his poker table. He sees that Ruby has noticed his attention is elsewhere. Jake shrugs his shoulders and says quietly to her, "Just getting ready."

Kate says, "Looks like you'll have an interesting game tonight, Jake." "Hmmm?" It takes Jake a moment to turn to Katherine and register what she said. "Yes, looks like a full table." He casts a sideways glance at Ruby and says, "Perhaps I'll be lucky tonight." “Of course you will. You’re wearing your new lucky hat. You’ll be just as lucky as you want to be,” Ruby says with a wink.

The six people waiting at the table all are reacting differently. Cassidy and Brower are conversing primarily with themselves with an occasional comment to the man in the bow tie. Brower seems content to wait, Cassidy is acting rather impatient, while the man in the bow tie appears deep in thought and annoyed whenever Cassidey or Brower talk to him. The two ranchers appear to be friends and are talking exclusively to each other. Jake is able to determine from the body language that one of the two seems to have some sort of influence over the other. The woman has turned her chair to get a better view of the pianist and is sitting back and enjoying every note of the music, with a broad smile on her face.

Ruby is intrigued by the blond haired piano player. The music he is playing is beautiful and she is almost entraced. She gets up, walks over to the piano, and sits next to him on the bench. When he stops playing she says, "That was just wonderful." She stretches out her hand to him, "My name's Ruby." He ignores her extended hand, introduces himself as Stanley Barker, says "You must be Katherine." He then and then finds another piece of music titled "Beethoven Piano Concerto Number Five" and starts playing. "No, it's Ruby..." but Stanley had already started playing again. "Hum, a challenge..." she thinks, "if I get bored." She smiles to herself. Ruby was almost never bored.

Katherine tried to split her attention between Joe Cartwright and the music coming from the piano, but more and more the music was winning. She felt a bit guilty, but Joe didn't seem to mind the lull in the conversation, and Jake was obviously already putting himself into the poker game to come.

The smile on Ruby's face told Katherine that the girl was also fascinated. She laughed to herself when Ruby got up and sat on the bench with the young man. For a moment Kate feared the Ruby's presence would distract him, but he seemed only to say hello and then go back to his music. She smiled at the slightly startled look on Ruby's face. Apparently this was one man who was not distracted by a pretty girl. The familiar strains of Beethoven began, and Kate shut her eyes to listen. Ruby gets up and goes back to the table to finish her dinner. Kate had her eyes closed and Jake was concentrating on his poker table. So for once Ruby sat there quietly.

So you want to be a better Poker player?" Jake's eyes flick from Ruby to the table he has been watching. "Even the best players sometimes give themselves away when the game is not on. One way to win is to take them out of their element. See there?" He nods slightly. "The impatient one, make him wait. The contented one, pick up the pace. That one there with the bow tie, if I'm not mistaken he'll be easy to rattle. Probably likes everything just so. Even little things like dealing his cards a bit messy will set him on edge. Those two ranchers, well I'll watch for one watching the other for queues, or even backing off when he thinks his partner has a good hand. The woman, well I haven't figured her yet. But she probably is a risk taker, just being a woman at the table if you are concerned about your reputation is a risk. She seems confident and at least somewhat educated. I'll have to think on her some more."

He turns to look at Ruby, "Of course I could be wrong, which is why you size them up and try your guesses out early. Cocky poker players usually end up with empty pockets. There is a lot of the game that has little to do with the cards." "Jake, are you giving away your secrets to me? That could be dangerous... And what's this about a women's reputation and sitting at a poker game?" "Ruby, I don't make the rules on reputations, just tellin' you what I hear and see." And then quietly with a wink, "Girl, secrets or not, I don't reckon how you could be any more dangerous."

Ruby puts her hand on Jake’s hand, leaning towards him. “Dangerous? Whatever are you talking about?” Then she laughs and sits back. “I like you Silver Jake Cooke. You make me laugh. Now listen, what are you waiting for? Go win back your money from last night. I think you have that table all figured out already. And with your new lucky hat you can’t lose.” Ruby pauses. “But if you think at some point you need more you let me know and I’ll come and give you some.”

Ruby takes another look back at the table Jake will be playing at to process his conclusions. The woman was a very curious enigma. At this moment she seemed to be totally enthralled by the man at the piano sitting attentively and watching not his face but his fingering of the keys.

The impatient one took out his watch, looked at the time, and then stood up. He walked over to the bar and spoke to Tom Whipple. Tom then got the man a drink and when the man took out money to pay for it Tom would not accept it. That seemed to somewhat pacify the man, who stayed by the bar chatting with Tom rather than returning to the table. Jake's assessment of the man with the bow tie appear to be correct as the man carefully rearranged his drink, napkin, and money clip on the table before him so that the edges were all square together.

With the closer look the relationship between the two ranchers also became clearer. Although both men were dressed in standard outdoor garb that was practically identical she began to notice some minor differences. One man had boots that showed a lot of wear but were well made and would probably last for several more months of hard work. His shirt also showed wear but was free of stains. And his belt was made of thick leather with a silver-plated belt buckle. His companion had boots that one heal was beginning to come loose, a stain and missing button on his shirt and a thin leather belt with a steel buckle. The more presentable man then said something to his companion and the other one went up to the bar to get drinks for both of them.

Kate ate her dinner with little attention to the taste. Jake and Ruby talked about poker, so she didn't feel the need to pretend to listen. She continued to enjoy the music until her plate was somehow empty. Finally she got up to fetch her apron and look for Maggie.

Meanwhile, two miles northeast of Promise City….The prospector Elliott suspected that the ride to Promise City would be a long one, but it was taking even longer than he had ever anticipated. Around a half-mile back one of the wagon’s back wheels had become wedged in a culvert along the side of the road and the already fatigued horses could not pull it out. The two men had to unload several hundred pounds of stones from that end of the wagon and then help push, after which they then had to reload the wagon. The delay had cost them a couple of hours and taxed their already overworked muscles, so both now men rode inside the wagon rather than having one walk alongside it. The ride since that time had been slow but without incident, although the wheel that had gotten stuck was now wobbling and squeaking. And the town was still a long ways off.

 

[Silver Moon]

Chapter Fifty-one, “The Pianist”, January 7th, 1882:

Ludwig Von Beethoven had written five piano concertos and the one that Stanley Barker was now playing was the final of these. Of all the concertos this was the only one that Beethoven had never performed in public due to his declining hearing. It was written most likely in 1809, the year that Beethoven's contemporary Joseph Haydn died. Haydn's death and funeral had a profound impact on him and it is said that much of the piece reflects those emotions. Concerto Number Five in E-Flat was first performed in 1810.

Jake didn't know any of that history, but he was familiar with this piece of music. It was one that his perfectionist piano teacher had loved and had forced Jake as a boy to spend hours at the keyboard attempting to learn. So Jake was aware that this was a very long piece of music, taking just under twenty minutes to play, and that the pianist had another six or seven minutes to go until he would be finished.

Kate poked her head into the kitchen and saw Maggie tidying up. "Do you have a moment?" Kate asked nervously as she stepped inside. "I wanted to talk to you about the new addition. You see, when you first mentioned it, I thought you intended to put in rooms for rent." She paused and took a deep breath, hoping she wasn't about to hurt Maggie's feelings too much.

"Well, anyway, I wanted to tell you how grateful I am that you want us to come and stay here. You've been so kind, and I can't say how much I appreciate it. But I think we must continue to stay at the El Parador. I hope you're not very disappointed." On impulse Kate reached out and took Maggie's hand. "I think you should add that third floor and make it a lovely home for yourselves. Why should you have just the one room? You could have a parlor, and a large, peaceful room for yourself."

Maggie replies "Tom is too practical to add on extra space for just us and his Father would never approve of more space for us either. We could rent out more rooms, but I really think that you and Ruby should both reconsider. The El Parador is no place for a lady. You probably don't realize it, but they actually have harlots living there." She pauses for effect at that, assuming that this will be a revelation to Katherine.

Maggie continues "I'm sure that neither you or Ruby would ever really be comfortable staying at a place that promotes prostitution. You two have been staying there now to be near your friend Jake, but there will be room for him here too, as long as he doesn't do as bad at the poker table tonight as he did yesterday. Oh, I'm just teasing you, I'm sure we can find something else for a nice man like him to do around here other than gambling. It may just be that poker is not his game. Cousin Teddy will be coming out next week with Tom's Father to help build the new floor. Teddy deals a card game known as Faro, which he might be able to teach to Jake. Trust me, you will all be much better off under the same roof as Tom and myself. I can hardly wait, I've missed having a friend to talk to."

"Maggie, I'll be glad to come over and visit you every day if you like. In fact, I'd hoped you wouldn't mind if I stopped by tomorrow to play the piano, just for myself, to practice you know. But I really believe we must stay at the El Parador. I believe Ruby values her freedom to come and go as she pleases without worrying anyone, and I must learn to live on my own for a while. And of course, there is Nanuet. He is not employed here, and the El Parador is the only place where he can stay. I'll ask Ruby if she wants to reconsider, but I don't think the answer will change. I'm so sorry to disappoint you, I didn't know it meant so much to you."

She replies "Oh, I've just been lonely I guess. Seeing Flossie again last night just brought back all the old memories. We were best friends and nearly inseparable. I guess it's just selfish of me to want another relationship like that again. Kate replies, "It's not selfish at all. Everyone deserves a good friend. But we can be good friends without living under the same roof." Kate leaned forward and kissed Maggie's cheek. "I've been learning all about lonely, Maggie, and I don't like it either." Kate paused a moment. "I know why you want us to come here, but why is Mr. Whipple willing to spend so much to bring us here? Maggie replies, "It won't cost that much, as we will be doing the labor ourselves. Only the supplies, and since the lumberyard and brickyard owners both play here Tom thinks he can get a good price."

Oh, and of course you are welcome to come over here tomorrow. Sundays is the light day of the week, as we don't even open for business until suppertime. My Father believed that regular church attendance was important and hosted Sunday services at his Tavern and Inn in Denver, and I've attended services ever since. We don't have a Greek/Roman church in this town as of yet, but on one Sunday a month a traveling priest holds services at the town hall. On the other Sundays Tom and I attend a weekly prayer service that Judge Lacey runs next door at his store. If we're not around when you want to use the piano just go next door and get us and one of us will unlock the saloon for you."

Ruby winks at Jake, gets up and goes looking for Katherine. She hears her in the kitchen talking with Maggie, overhears some of the conversation and decides to let Kate handle it.

Kate says, and if it's not too nosy of me, what was the falling out between he and Flossie about?" Maggie’s face goes pale and Katherine senses that she has hit upon a very sensitive area. But Maggie then immediately recovers and gives the explanation "They had a disagreement over some advice that Tom's Father had given to him. We should both get back outside, they will be need waitresses about now."

"Of course," Kate said mildly. She put her arm around Maggie's waist and they left the kitchen. She went about her work as the music wound toward it's ending. Maggie was holding something back about Flossie. She looked over toward Tom Whipple. Maybe it really did have something to do with his father's advice. Or maybe it had to do with Tom's wandering eye. She shook her head. She'd have to wait until the night was over and see if Ruby noticed anything.

"Of course," Kate said mildly. She put her arm around Maggie's waist and they left the kitchen. She went about her work as the music wound toward it's ending. Maggie was holding something back about Flossie. She looked over toward Tom Whipple. Maybe it really did have something to do with his father's advice. Or maybe it had to do with Tom's wandering eye. She shook her head. She'd have to wait until the night was over and see if Ruby noticed anything.

Ruby realizes that Kate is busy so she goes back over to where Jake is sitting. She puts her head near to Jake’s and whispers… ”Jake, what are we going to do tomorrow? I don’t think the coach leaves us much time to find and talk to Earp and the girl and we can’t be gone forever or Kate will be suspicious. She’s probably suspicious at it is…”
Jake scratches his beard a moment and then says, "One of us needs to get to the coach people tonight. We'll bribe them to leave earlier tomorrow morning and to make good time. And we'll also have them depart late from Tombstone." He smiles an evil looking smile. "I would imagine all that hard driving on the way over will require some wheel maintenance."

“Jake!” she says narrowing her eyes. “You rascal!” Ruby pauses to think it over. “…But it works,” she says with a crooked smile to match Jake’s. "I don't care what time we get back, although any other customers might. Heck, we can buy all the seats if we had too, although we can probably do the convincing at a minimal cost. Just cause we have the money doesn't mean we should be in a rush to spend it. Whoever gets a break first should go take care of it. Oh I have plenty of things I want to spend money on and that’s not one of them. If you do go let me know and if you don’t see me around that means I went. Ok?” Jake nods his head in agreement.

Ruby decides while she is waiting to sing to introduce herself to the people sitting at Job's / Jake's table. She walks over and sits in Jake's empty seat. She turns to the ranchers. "Hi, I'm Ruby. And you are?" She does keep one eye on door to the kitchen, waiting for Katherine to come out.

The woman totally ignores her, continuing to watch the piano playing, but the four men at the table all give her their undivided attention. "Al Brower," the relaxed man says, "I've been here every night this week to hear your pretty little voice but we've never been formally introduced." The two cattlemen introduce themselves as Tempel Morand and Bart Hoople. The man in the bow tie says "And you must be the Ruby West I've heard so much about. Tell me Miss West, where is it that you are staying here in Promise City?" Ruby turns to face him. "And you are?" she says smiling sweetly.

Al Brower laughs and says “Nothing devious about his question Miss West. Eddie is the postal clerk for the United States Post Office here in Promise City. He just wants to know where to deliver any mail that he gets for you.” "Oh I'm sure I won't be getting any mail. No one knows I'm here. But if Eddie wants to bring me something he can bring it here." Ruby winks at him. Ruby continues to flip her hair and flirt with the men at the table until Jake is ready to start his game. She does keep an eye on the mysterious woman.

The pianist stands up. The woman sitting at Job’s table leaps to her feet and begins a round of applause. The others at that table also stand and applaud and others in the room join in the clapping. The man steps away from the piano bench and takes a bow.

Maggie walks over to the man as the applause dies down and the players at Job’s table retake their seats. As the woman moves to sit down again Jake gets a brief glimpse of her right leg through a slit running up the right side of her skirt. What has caught his attention isn’t the momentary look at one of her shapely legs but rather the pearl-handled revolver strapped to the outer side of her high leather boot. Three things to remember, Jake says to himself. Carries a gun, a pearl handled gun, and is right handed. He waits patiently for his last player like it was a card being dealt.

Maggie announces “Once again we are pleased to have Stanley Barker share his musical talents with us. Those of you who do not know Stanley should make it a point to stop by his photography studio over on Sierra Street between Front and Allen. It’s the best photo studio in town. Stanley will be back later this evening to play for you again.”

"He's here every Saturday?" Kate whispered to Maggie. "I may have to start coming down early to listen." Maggie replies, “Yes, he is a marvel at the keyboards. My playing is mediocre at best compared to his. After we lost Flossie his Saturday night concerts were a gift from the gods. That was the only night of the week where we would have more patrons than you could count on your fingers. He refuses to put out a tips cup or take any money for his playing. All that he asks is for me to say a few kind word about his photography studio and at the end of each night for me to play a few slow songs for him and his wife to dance to.”

"Oh, that's lovely," Kate said quietly. "Is that her at Jake's table?" she asked, even as she remembered dancing with Tom and blinked back the tears that threatened. She definitely needed a quiet day, Kate thought to herself. She must be terribly tired to be so emotional.

Maggie replies, “Yes, that's her. Her passion for poker is second only to her passion for her husband. She’ll only allow him to play during breaks in the poker game since she refuses to split her concentration between what she calls ‘her two loves’. That usually means he only gets do short pieces until after the game is over. Tonight was a real treat for him, getting to play two long pieces in a row.

They make a very interesting couple. She’s thirty-eight years old and he’s only twenty-three. They’ve been married for a little over a year now but they’ve worked together as business partners for close to five years. When they’re here she insists that he keep a physical distance from her until after she is done playing poker, since she says that he throws off her concentration. But that changes the instant they hit the dance floor together, when they both act like a couple of lovesick school children.”

Kate picked up the tip cups and put one of the stage for Ruby and the other on top of the piano. Ruby was still talking at the table, so Kate played some pretty German folk songs while she waited. There was no way she would play any classical following Mr. Barker.

 

[Silver Moon]

Chapter Fifty-two, “Helen Barker and Cornelius Van Horne”, January 7th, 1882:

Tom waves Jake over to the bar and says "Jake, we were waiting for another one of Job's regular players to arrive but he doesn't appear to be coming. Why don't you get started, Neil here is a little anxious." Jake and Neil Cassidy head over to the table.

Before he sits down he says, "Good evening folks, thanks for coming tonight. My name is Jake Cook and I'll be sitting in for Job Kane tonight. We expect Job to be able to come back to his regular table soon, in the mean time we'll keep his table warm. Shall we?" Jake takes his seat to collect the names of those he has not already met. Neil Cassidy mutters “It’s about time.” The man in the bow tie says, “Please calm down Mr. Cassidy. I heard you took in close to $ 300 last night. Don’t be in such a rush to win all our money tonight.”

Brower laughs and says “Well Eddie, maybe you’ll be the big winner this time around. You did take the pot that one time around a year ago.” The man immediately corrects him, stating “No, it wasn’t a year. I won on the final pot of the night on March 26th. That was 287 days ago, which is only 78.6% of a year.” The man then looks up at Jake and says “Thank you Sir for filling in for Job while he is unavailable. Now, where is it that are you staying Mr. Cook?” I am temporarily staying at the El Parador, but I'll be sure to let you know when I relocate to a more permanent location in town." Jake says to put the Postmaster at ease. He scans the players quickly for any reaction. The man thanks Jake for the information and introduces himself as Edward Palmer.

Brower tells Jake, “I’d like to apologize for playing with Tony last night instead of you. I hope you don’t take it personally, I think you’re a fine dealer. It was that Evan Adair who I was trying to avoid. He hates all of his competitors. You saw how badly he treated the Whipples; well he’s the same way with me since I’m a part owner of the Comique. I did not feel like sitting through an entire evening of his jabs and insults about how great his Saloon is compared to mine. I tell you, I really got a big kick out of seeing Neil here beat the pants off of him.”

Jake’s attention wanders to the pair of ranchers. The one who Jake concluded was the more influential of the two introduces himself as Tempel Morand of the Rocking-H Ranch, ten miles southwest of the town and the largest ranch in Cochise County. The other man introduces himself as Bart Hoople and says that he works at the Rocking-H. Jake now gets a closer look at the woman, still not being able to fully identify the odd smell coming from her. He also now detects another scent, a faint cigar smell coming from her clothing and now sees the tops of two cigar stubs protruding from a pocket in her vest. She smiles and tells him “Hello Jake, I’m Helen. Let’s play cards.”

He shuffles the cards, offers a cut and says with a smile, "Five card draw." and begins dealing. Ninety minutes pass at the poker table. During that time everybody has won at least one hand except for the cowboy Bart Hoople. Jake quickly deduces that Helen is the best player currently at the table, possibly even better than he is. At this point Jake is $ 17 ahead of where he began. He estimates that Helen is $ 25 ahead; the rancher Morand is $ 8 ahead; Bower is even; Palmer is also even but just because he's folded with every hand; Cassidy is down $ 20; and Hoople is down $ 30. Ruby sang one of songs during that time. During her performance Stanley Barker sat alone at a table beside the stage, taking in her every note with a happy and relaxed look on his face.

Adam and Hoss Cartwright joined Little Joe and the three sat attentively during Ruby's performance and gave her a standing ovation when she was done. They settled down after that but were then cornered by Parker Baxter. The men spoke to him for around ten minutes. Parker then excused himself to go use the outhouse and while he was gone the three said their good-byes to Katherine and Ruby and left before the newspaperman returned. Katherine was pleased to note that Tom Whipple hasn't been staring at her this evening and thinks, "Maybe it was just the dramatic change in my clothing that he was looking at."

Ruby noticed Baxter from the stage and decided she would have a little chat with him about the day’s events when he came back in. As soon as she sees him she walks right up. ‘Mr. Baxter, so nice to see you again. What are you doing here? I was wondering about the commotion with the shooting today and Wyatt Earp. I’m sure an informed man such as yourself knows the details of what went on…” He appears to be far more sober than prior times when she saw him. He replies "Ah yes, Mrs. Cookie, so nice to see you again. Perchance did you happen to see where the three cattlemen I was talking to went off to? No?

Today, Oh, you mean the commotion over at the Trail Dust Saloon. Just a minor misunderstanding. You can read all about it in my paper. I should have a special edition out tomorrow. You may have to look to the third or fourth page to find it though, a much bigger story has come up." He then finishes his drink as well as half of one that Adam Cartwright left behind and rushes out the door.

“Oh boy,” thinks Ruby. “Well at least they don’t think it was us…I guess I should go now and find out about the stagecoach.” She looks around the room at who could answer some questions for her. She couldn’t ask Maggie or Tom, it could get back to Katherine. And then there was Stanley. After all, he was sitting there all alone. Ruby walks over to him.

“Hello, Mr. Barker. Lovely playing earlier. I’m sure my friend Katherine really enjoyed it too. I didn’t really get a chance to talk with you earlier. I noticed that Maggie says you have a photography studio around here. I was hoping that you could answer a question for me, as I am new around here. Could you tell me where the office is for the Coach that goes to Tombstone? I’m thinking of taking a trip there and need some information.” Helen's winning streak comes to an abrupt end immediately after Ruby approaches and speaks to the man who played the piano earlier. Helen loses $ 14 in that hand and declares "Time for a break!" She then gets up and marches directly towards the table by the stage.

Morand wins that hand picking up a $ 40 pot, most coming from Cassidy. Hoople declares "I'm broke and out." Jake is another $ 8 ahead, now up to $ 25 more than he began the night. Bower is also now slightly ahead. Palmer bet on only one hand all evening, losing $ 5. Jake declares, "Well gentlemen, the lady says it's time for a break. I think we have enough to continue in about fifteen minutes? Perhaps we can even entice an additional player or two." Jake tries not to make it too obvious that he is watching what is about to happen between Helen and Ruby. But he moves closer just in case he needs to break something up.

Before Stanley can even get an answer out to Ruby's questions a female voice sounds from behind Ruby saying, "Dear, we're on a break. Why don't you entertain the house again." A smile covers his face and he says "Wonderful idea. Oh, this is the singer Ruby West, she has some business questions you might be able to answer." He then heads back to the piano and places out a book filled with sheet music. Ruby notes the title of the book "Songs and Ballads of Sir Arthur Sullivan". Stanley opens the book to the popular Sullivan song "Sweethearts" and then launches into the lyrics (written by Sullivan's frequent collaborator W.S. Gilbert). He has a beautiful tenor voice and as he sings looks up into Helen's eyes.

Ruby turns around slowly to see Helen standing there. “Oh, I don’t think I caught your name earlier Miss…” Ruby extends her hand to the woman. "It's MRS. Mrs. Stanley Barker." "Excuse me, Mrs. Barker, I didn't know you were married to Mr. Barker here. I was just commenting on how wonderful Mr. Barker's playing was. And asking him if he knew where I could find the stagecoach office. Is there a problem?" No, no problem. Just needed to clarify," she states. She then says "The stagecoach office won't be open until tomorrow but I believe that the drivers spend Saturday nights over at the Drover's Saloon."

While this is going on a large well dressed man enters the room. He stands around six-foot-three and is a good 300 pounds. He is wearing an off-white finely tailored three-piece suit the color of which matches the ivory of the piano keys. He has a high-collared white starched shirt and a white bow tie, both of which appear to be made of silk. Large shoes made of tan suede adorn his feet that exactly match his belt. The suit is open and gold chains can be seen dangling from three of the six vest pockets. A small wooden case, most likely for eyeglasses, sits in another vest pocket. He has a round face with a white goatee, mustache, bushy eyebrows and a full head of white hair parted to the right with a white silk hat above it. Jake guesses his age to be late sixties or early seventies. In his right hand is a wooden cane with a gold grip and gold stopper on the bottom.

Jake decides that the worst that is likely to happen now is a little edged banter so goes over to get a drink. and to watch the new well dressed stranger from the bar. While they are having this conversation Stanley finishes the song and launches immediately into another one. His wonderful voice sings out the words:

All the dreaming is broken through,
Both what is done and undone I rue.
Nothing is steadfast, nothing is true,
But your love for me, and my love for you,
My dearest, dearest heart!

When the winds are loud, when the winds are low;
When the roses come, when the roses go,
One thought, one feeling is all I know,
My dearest, dearest heart!

The time is weary, the year is old,
And the light of the lily burns close to the mould:
The grave is cruel, the grave is cold,
But the other side is the city of gold,
My dearest heart!
My darling, darling, my darling heart!

Hearing the lyrics to Judge Lacey's favorite song suddenly reminds Ruby that she had made a lunch date with him for the next day, for when she is now planning to be in Tombstone with Jake.

While this is going on the large man walks by Jake’s table and goes straight to the bar. Jake hears the man exclaim in a deep baritone voice with a strong southern accent “Mr. Whipple, May I please inquire as to the whereabouts of Mr. Kane this evening?” Tom replies, “Why yes Mr. Van Horne, he’s currently indisposed.” "Good evening Mr. Van Horne, allow me to introduce myself. I am Jake Cook. Mr. Kane has asked me to keep his table running while he is away. There is a chair available if you are so inclined. And if you'd prefer to come another time when Mr. Kane is back, I would understand." The man turns his head slightly in Jake's direction without fully looking at him, then turns back towards Tom Whipple and asks "Kane isn't here? Is he sick?”

Tom Whipple replies, “On Thursday night he and a customer had a disagreement and Marshall Earp decided to settle it by locking them both up in jail. He should be back next week. In the meanwhile I’ve hired a Mr. Cook here as new dealer for this evening. He played last night with your friend Mr. Adair and I'm sure you will find him acceptable. We also have a new singer, this young lady Miss Ruby West, whose talents I believe you will really enjoy.”

Van Horne answers, “I am always thankful for the entertainment of a lady, but I’m not really in the mood this evening for a new poker partner. If there’s room at Mr. Lucia’s table I’ll take a seat there.” Tom replies, “Yes, he has two seats open and I’ve gotten that bottle that you asked requested. I’ll bring it right over to you.” Van Horne replies “Much obliged. And if Maggie could mix up some good old-fashioned southern friend chicken that would be really appreciated.”

Ruby slides up next to Jake at the bar and asks him "How's your game going?" Jake makes no facial expression bad I think the mix just changed though. You rattled that lady good though." Ruby says, "Listen, I figured the coach's office would be closed but lovely Mrs. Baxter over there informed me that the drivers are at another Saloon. I"m not sure I can get in and out on my break. I'm also not sure I should be doing that alone..." He replies, "Ok, Ruby. I'll run over right now but keep piano boy playing and you singing and don't lose my players while I'm out!"

Ruby reaches out her hand, since she is standing right there. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Van Horne." He turns in her direction with his back to Jake and praises her singing voice and beauty, offering to buy her a drink. Rather than being offended, Jake tries not to laugh. "Since I am invisible anyway," he whispers to Ruby, "I'll go now." With a broad smile on his face he walks slowly out the front doors into the darkness and then hurries to Drover's Saloon in search of a coach driver or two.

Meanwhile, within sight of Promise City….the prospectors saw the lights of Promise City up ahead. They had circumnavigated around to the north of the town and now approached from the northwest, planning to reach the stamping mill and smelter without being seen by any of the townspeople. The mill sat atop a hill on the western end of town. The road up to the mill was on the side of the hill facing the town, and the men heard the sounds of the town having a lively Saturday night. The mistrustful prospectors wanted to continue to remain unnoticed so they decided not to use that road but to instead go up the short hill to the stamping mill from the direction from which they were travelling.

 

[Silver Moon]

Interlude Four: "The Showmen"

Meanwhile, approximatley 1,400 miles northeast of Promise City, at one of St. Louis, Missouri’s finest restaurants…the two showmen sat across from each other, each savoring the taste of their porterhouse steaks served with the restaurant’s own secret sauce. Their arrival had caused quite a stir, with the restaurant’s waiters literally falling over each other to serve the men. The restaurant owner had donated a fine bottle of wine for the meal and mentioned sending for a photographer. Neither man seemed overly excited about that interruption of their dining but they both understood the importance of free publicity.

“Must you dress in such an outlandish outfit?” asks the man who was neatly attired in a well-made wool and silk blended suit asked of his flamboyant companion. “All part of the act,” William ‘Buffalo Bill’ Cody replies, although he himself was now regretting the fringes and tassels dangling from the sleeves of his yellowish-tan leather coat, as they kept coming precariously close to his food whenever he cut into the steak. Cody took another bite and said, “A very fine choice of restaurant P.T., this is the best steak I’ve ever eaten outside of Chicago.”

The two men continued to dine and talk, with the subject of this meeting then being raised. Not long after that point in the discussion the photographer arrived and began to set up the equipment in the restaurant’s outer lobby. The restaurant owner hurried over to the table and interrupted their conversation, exclaiming “Mr. Barnum, Mr. Cody, could you please join me for a picture?” The two men accompanied him and spent the next fifteen minutes posing for the photographs. The photographer shot several pictures to ensure that at least one would be presentable. The celebrities then returned to their table.

They picked up the conversation where they had left off which Cody commenting, “Hard to believe that such a monster actually exists. I’ve always thought it was just a thing of legend.” Barnum replies, “I’ve had accounts of three different sightings, the last from a man I wholeheartedly trust. If he says that it exists then it does. Capturing it will not be an easy task, which is why I suggested this partnership.” Cody answers, “Well, you’ll come out a winner no matter how we get it. We may have to kill the thing, which you could still stuff and display at your circus, but I plan for everything at my Wild West shows to be live.”

“So do we have a deal?” Barnum asks. Cody replies, “Fine with me. I was planning to head down to southeastern Arizona anyway to try to sign up that kid Sure Shot Sam, the one who gunned down Doc Holliday and Johnny Behind-the-Deuce. I figure he’d be a good draw for my shows. The men would love to hear the stories of all the folks he’s killed and the papers say that he’s young and handsome, which will help to pull in the women too.”

P.T. exclaims “Great! Glad to have you on board. I’m sorry that I’ll personally have to miss out on this, but I’m already scheduled to head over to Europe later this week for another animal acquisition. You’ll be happy to know though that I’ve hired three of the best hunters and outdoorsmen in the world to assist with this operation. They will be joining up with each other later this week in Phoenix.” Cody didn’t comment, but he was actually pleased to hear that Barnum would not be joining the expedition. The last thing he needed underfoot was an overweight elderly Easterner who was unfamiliar with living in the outdoors.

Barnum asks, “How long will it take for your crew to get organized?” “Shouldn’t take too long,” Cody replies, “I’ll wire my buffalo hunters and have them meet up with me in Santa Fe. We should be able to connect with your group in another week or so. What’s the name of the town that we’ll be using as our base camp?” Barnum replies “Promise City”.

 

[Silver Moon]

Chapter Fifty-three, “The Accident”, January 7th, 1882:

Back in the Saloon the well-dressed Southern Gentleman had just said in his rich Georgian accented voice "Why hello Miss West, I am pleased to make your acquaintance. May I offer you a drink?" "I'd love one," she replies. Tom Whipple asks Van Horne "Are you going to join Tony?" The older man says "Maybe at the next hand, it would be rude to pull myself away from the lady. Please get her a glass of her favorite beverage and I'll try that bottle we spoke of." Tom takes out and opens a bottle of Kentucky Bourbon and pours Van Horne a glass. "And what are you drinking tonight Ruby?" Tom asks. "I'll have with your having, if you don't mind too much." Ruby keeps her eye on Jake's table to make sure they aren't getting fidgety.

Van Horne pours her a large glass of the Kentucky Bourbon while he finishes his first glass and pours himself a second. Tom Whipple says, "You may want to go a little slower on that. I believe it is the last bottle in town." Van Horne laughs and says "Good Sir, there is no reason to save something that can be shared with one as lovely as Miss West here. If her singing voice compares in any way with the beauty I see before me I'll consider myself fortunate."

“Why Mr. Van Horne, how very kind of you. I only hope I can live up to your high expectations.” When Tom spoke Ruby looked up at him and noticed he was looking at Katherine. She glanced over her shoulder and noticed Katherine tending to a table, having no idea that Tom was looking at her. Tom had a look on his face that Ruby had never seen him make before, a look that should have been reserved for his wife. Ruby cleared her throat to see if Tom would stop.

Kate's step got livelier as she became more assured that Mr. Whipple was not watching her. How foolish felt, imagining such a thing. This week had been such a whirlwind, it was good she would have tomorrow to relax and her gets her head on straight. Suddenly she looked forward to coming back tomorrow to play the piano and talk with Maggie.

Hopefully Tom's father would not be making any suggestions she felt the need to leave over, she thought lightly to herself. Her suspicions about Flossie melted as her suspicions about Tom did. She was actually humming by the time Mr. Barker sat down to play again. Stanley finishes his fifth love ballad to his wife. He stops and the two embrace and lose each other in a passionate kiss. Several people applaud.

A short distance to the west, Jake has now reached the intersection of Main and Front Streets and is about to turn north towards Drovers. Meanwhile, further to the west, approximately 600 feet west of the Lone Star Dance Hall and Saloon the prospectors and their wagon have arrived at the hill up to the Breakheart Stamping Mill. They see that their destination is around one-hundred-and-fifty feet up the hill at a twenty-degree angle. Elliott whips the horses to move onward.

At the hill to the Breakheart Stamping Mill, the short distance upward proved to be too much for one of the overworked draft animals to bear. When they were twenty feet from the top, one of the physically depleted horses collapsed dead. The remaining animal could not support the weight that it was pulling by itself and the wagon began to quickly roll backwards. Elliott applied the wagon’s break lever, which broke off in his hand. Both prospectors immediately jumped from the rig. It continued to roll back down the hill dragging the horses with it and picking up speed.

After rolling for around sixty feet the already damaged wagon wheel struck up against a rock imbedded into the hill, causing the wheel to split. The broken wheel shattered into pieces and fell to the side off of the wagon. This resulted in the back end of the wagon crashing hard onto the ground. The flimsy wooden side rails holding in the stones broke off as the 2,500 pounds of mined stones struck against them and then cascaded down the hill. Jake hears the sounds of this deluge of wood and rocks a short distance off to the southwest and decides to go investigate.

Back at the hill, one of these rolling stones was an 85-pound rock, approximately fifteen-inch long and seven inches at its widest point. It tumbled down the hill the remaining seventy feet, picking up speed along the way. At the bottom of the hill it continued to roll for another thirty-five feet, the journey coming to an abrupt end when it struck against a sage bush. The rock finally stopped as it landed with a sharp impact on a spot where a glass sphere filled with green liquid had been buried just beneath the sand, causing the glass to shatter.

Ruby suddenly felt overwhelmed. She felt ill, hot, bothered, she wasn’t sure. Without excusing herself she got up and went outside into the cool air. She started fanning herself but it was only getting worse.

A thought suddenly crossed her mind. Tom Whipple had been looking at Kate very inappropriately and she was going to have to do something about it. She marched back inside and noticed that Tom was still looking at Kate. She walked right up to him, blocking his vision of Kate. “What do you think you’re doing?” she said angrily. “Isn’t that a bit improper? Especially with your wife around?”

Tom Whipple turns to her and says in a rather low voice "I ummm, well, I was just watching how she waited on the tables. She is a new employee you know. So are you...." Ruby yells back,"What are you saying, Tom? That Kate is incapable of waiting on tables? And I sure hope for your sake you're not looking at me like that when my back is turned because I'm new here. I don't believe you for one second. You should be ashamed of yourself! That girl is just coming out of mourning and your wife is standing over there!"

Katherine is busy clearing a table. The two men at the adjacent table are watching the altercation between him and Ruby with amused expressions on their faces. Katherine overhears one say to the other "It looks like old Tomcat is at it again." "What?" Kate stood up, startled. The men at the adjacent table saw her face go white, but her voice was steady. "Did you gentlemen need something?" "Uh, no ma'am," one of them answered.

She looked over at the bar, where Ruby had been smiling and having drinks with richly dressed man just moments before. Now her face was livid and she was grating out something at Tom Whipple. Even as Kate picked up her tray of empty glasses Ruby strode over and grabbed her by the arm. The glasses shattered on the floor as Ruby pulled her out the door. As Ruby is exiting she yells back over her shoulder "You need to cool off Mr. Whipple!!"

"Wait, Ruby!" Kate pulled back against her once they were a few steps out the door. "What happened? I...I thought it had stopped, but you must have noticed something. Did he make some kind of threat? What happened?" She replies, "He made a threat alright. I know that look he was giving you and..." Ruby paused and looked at Kate with narrowed eyes. "What do you mean, you thought it had stopped? Kate how long has this been going on?" Ruby's hand was tightening on Katherine’s arm. Kate answers, "I just noticed last night, but I didn't notice it tonight. I thought maybe he was just surprised by my clothes last night." Kate tried to pull her arm free and couldn't. "Please Ruby, you're hurting me."

Ruby answers, "Why would you keep something like that from me? I thought we were friends" Ruby lets go of Katherine's arm with a little push. "I guess I should know better than to trust anyone." "I suppose I should leave you to deal with Mr. Whipple then?"

Kate's face was stricken as Ruby pushed her away. "We are friends, Ruby. I thought I was just imagining it. And I did ask you to watch him tonight, remember? The only reason I didn't tell you were because I didn't want you to be influenced. I didn't want you to see it because you already suspected."

Ruby stops to think about what Katherine said. Then she says slowly, “I’m not sure I believe you Katherine. I don’t know what to think. So you can go back inside if you’d like. I’m done working here tonight. As a matter of fact I think I’ll go out and have some fun of my own. Who needs this job anyway? Mr. Stanley Barker can sing to his smart-ass wife all he wants, that’ll keep the crowd happy. Unless of course you want to come with me? But I might end up somewhere you don’t want to be. Somewhere people like you don’t usually go…”

Kate replies, "As long as I can get a drink, I don't care where we go. I can't go back in there, not with him, not ever. Please believe me Ruby. I knew I could trust you to tell me the truth about Tom Whipple, or the truth about myself if I was just imagining things."

Meanwhile, Jake has continued west for a few blocks down Main Street and out of town. He sees a broken wagon on the hill with a pair of dead or injured horses lying beside it. Two men are checking the horses. There is also a large pile of rubble covering the base of the hill beneath the wagon and Jake sees bits of silver sparkling in the moonlight.

Jake walks towards them quickly but without stealth, best not to surprise folks in the dark unless you mean to he thinks to himself. "Good evening gentlemen." he announces loudly "Quite a bit of bad luck you have going on here." He mumbles to himself, "More likely bad choices, but one mans bad choices are another's silver lining." One man says to the other "He's going to steal our ore" and reaches for the gun on his belt. "Whoa there, don't be so quick. I ain't threatening you." Jake exclaims "And you'll have the whole town out here if they hear a gunshot."

The man keeps his hand on the holstered gun but doesn't draw it. "Who are you? What do you want?" Jake's concentration continues to focus on the man talking to him, but he also watches the other, who is unhitching one horse that is apparently still alive. He answers, "I reckon I don't want anything, I was just walkin' down the street and heard the racket you are makin'. Do you need some help? Looks to me like you are in a world of hurt. Funny time to be movin' rock."

The men calm down and the one doing the speaking comes forward. "Sorry, we're just a bit upset. We were late getting the ore to town and decided to take a shortcut. Guess that was a mistake. Do you have a light mister, I'd like to get a better look at how bad a mess we made. "No, sorry." Jake looks around and guesses a light isn't going to make it any better. "I might be able to get my hands on a mining wagon and necessary horses though." Jake scratches his chin. "But you need to tell me why you are really movin' rocks around after sundown." The guy says "You a friend of Hamilton Fisk?" Jake answers, Never heard of him. Why do you ask?" "Fisk is a crooked lawyer. Out to cheat us. You like lawyers?"

While they are talking another man carrying a lantern comes around the bend in the hill. He yells "Is anybody hurt?" Jake looks over at the man carrying a lantern. "Look, I was actually in a hurry before. Is there some way I can help you guys or are you all set out here?" His companion cuts him off "Damn that’s Doc Eaton. He and Fisk are buddies." The first one tells Jake "Please go get that wagon. We'll make it worth your while."

"Alright, but it may take a bit to get it all hooked up and out here quietly." Jake nods to the two men. "But I'll be back." and turns to head back to town. He heads over to the Cantina and looks for Dorita. He motions her aside and says, "I need that mining wagon hooked up right now, but quietly. No, nothing illegal, just to help a couple of guys who got themselves in a jam. Can you have someone who can keep their mouth shut get it hooked up for me pronto? There'll be a good tip in it for 'em. I'll come back in a little while to get it."

He leaves the Cantina and heads back to the Lone Star. Talking to himself "I guess we'll plan on the stage leaving at the usual time. I didn't want to get up early anyway." Jake comes around the bend and sees Katherine and Ruby arguing.

The two ladies relax as Ruby says, "Alright Kate, if you really want to. Let's go to the Palace Saloon down the street. I hear they offer a good time." Ruby has a very mischievous look in her eyes, a look that Kate has never seen before. "Oh and don't worry if they don't. We make our own good time." Jake plots his walking path such that the ladies can decide to talk to him or ignore him as fits their mood. Part of him hopes that he can make it to the Lone Star, life has gotten particularly confusing lately.

Ruby sees Jake and walks right up to him. Jake notices the same look that Kate did. The first thing she does is slap him across the face hard. “That is for yesterday. I should have done it then but I felt bad because you got shot. But since you are all better now…” Jake can tell Ruby is deciding whether or not to slap him again. She decides against it. Ruby exclaims, “Kate and I are going out to have some fun. We’ve decided that Whipple is a pervert and we’re not going back, not tonight anyway.”

Kate looked back and forth between Jake and Ruby. Something wasn't right. It wasn't as if she had known Ruby long, but anger like this seemed out of her character. It was almost as if the blissful state of yesterday had been turned completely around. She looked at Jake, her confusion plain on her face.

She should go back to the El Parador and go to bed. Today had already been long enough. But still, a drink sounded awfully good, and something told her it was a bad idea to leave Ruby alone. For the first time Kate wouldn't be drinking alone.

"They're probably waiting for you in there," Kate said quietly, hoping he also noticed that something was off. "Please tell Maggie I'm sorry. I'll send the pillow back to her on Monday. We'll see you back at the El Parador in the morning."

Jake rubs his face where Ruby slapped it and squints with one eye. "No good deed goes unpunished, huh." He looks back and forth quickly to Katherine and Ruby. "I can see you are determined to have a ladies night out. Be sure and let me know if I can do anything to help so I can get slapped again." Jake walks on by and heads into the Lone Star, half expecting Tom Whipple to be laying on the floor somewhere.