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"Revenge, Renewal and the Promise of a New Year" (Boot Hill/D&D)
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 1836667" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter Thirty-five, “Arrival at Rustler’s Mountain”, January 7th , 1882:</strong></p><p></p><p>Al, Flint, Katherine, Nanuet and Ruby gather out front of the El Parador shortly after 6:00 AM knowing that it will be another half-hour until the first light of dawn will be coming over the horizon. The town itself is quiet on this cool Saturday morning. All six are dressed in riding clothes even Ruby, attired in some ill-fitting clothing borrowed that morning from the Hotel’s handiman Grant Keeber. </p><p></p><p>Bleary eyed Jake is up in the morning shortly after the others and quietly eats a bit of breakfast and then takes something for the ride. On the way to the horses he says "Do we have any extra rifles and shotguns? I can shoot anything, but don't own any rifles. And though I love my Colt, it is not much good at a distance. Be handy to have extras just in case, for anyone who knows how to shoot one." And "They might be hiding in the caves, Flint you bringing any dynamite?" He pats the saddlebag over his shoulder and says "Eighteen sticks" </p><p></p><p>Ruby shows him the horse which he doesn't inspect, he just puts the extra breakfast and a bottle in a saddlebag, rubs the horses nose a few times while saying something into her ear and mounts up. They hear the sound of horses in the distance, as five mounted men ride forward. They recognize the three Cartwright brothers. Adam introduces the other two as his brothers-in-law Nick and Heath Barkley. They have an extra horse with them, explaining that it is for Flint as his mule would slow them down too much. The dwarf starts to complain about that until Katherine reminds him that they are all doing this as a favor for him. Everyone mounts up and the eleven ride off to the southeast along the main road to Galeyville.</p><p></p><p>Katherine hadn't had the chance to resize the riding clothes she'd bought the day before, so instead she wore her equestrian clothes from the East. She felt rather out of place, and a bit out of sorts. Jake's comments the night before had haunted her sleep. What did they intend to do when they found these men? </p><p></p><p>Their intent was to take them to the County Sheriff. But she'd seen enough already to know that unless they caught them completely unaware, they'd fight. They'd rather die from a bullet than a rope. Tom's pistol felt heavy and unfamiliar tucked in the pocket of her jacket. She looked at Jake and Ruby. She had brought them here; what if something happened to them? But what if's were dangerous. Kate took a firmer hold on the reins and sat up straight, the pistol pulling her jacket down on one side. She would use it if she had to.</p><p></p><p>“What the hell am I doing out here?” thought Ruby sleepily. She was not a morning person by any stretch and this hour was just ungodly. She was tired from the day before. It had been a long, strange day. Sure she had felt great but when she thought back to some of the things that happened or that she agreed to she wondered what she had been thinking. And true it was great that the Whipples felt they could rely on her to bring in money for the Lone Star but they were making it harder and harder for her to just leave if she wanted to. She was already starting to feel tied down. </p><p></p><p>Most of her thoughts centered on now though. Her borrowed clothes were falling off and she wasn’t even sure what she could do to help out. Her specialty was avoiding altercations such as the one they were riding right into. It didn’t help that she was still practically asleep. </p><p></p><p>They had been riding for a little over an hour. The first light of dawn had crept over the mountains to the east but the sun hadn't showed itself yet. They reached the turn in the road that the Apache had spoken of and turned east. They cross an area rich in vegetation, with a variety of plants and trees. They soon reach the field with the large sycamore tree and ride up to it. The Apache had done as they asked and placed stones to represent the cave's occupants. "Good thing we brought so many of us," Flint comments as they count out twenty-six stones. “What the heck did that mean? Ruby thought. “Is there some sort of plan here or what?” she asked to no one in particular.</p><p></p><p>"Care to elaborate on that Flint?" Says Jake apparently coming out of his half asleep state, stretching and rubbing his eyes. "And I wouldn't mind if someone answers Miss West's question either." He looks around the vast lands around him thinking that there are plenty of places for a man with a gun to hide. Adam Cartwright answers the first question stating "The Apache said they would leave one stone here for each rustler hiding out in the caves. I count twenty-six stones." </p><p></p><p>Flint interjects "Plan's simple. We sneak up on the caves, toss in the lit sticks of dynamite, and shoot anyone still alive in the caves afterwards." Kate exclaims "If that's the plan, I'm turning around and going back to Promise City. I didn't come out here to kill people. At least, not as anything but a last resort."</p><p></p><p>Jake smiles and shakes his head a couple of times. "I'm glad we are all in agreement then." Katherine gives him one of her looks and he clears his throat and looks away. "Except for the implications on my standings in the afterlife, I like Flint's plan. But I don't think we'll get that chance. I don't know how far away we are from the caves, but if I had 26 people I think I'd have a few of them out as scouts or spotters. Whenever we are in range of some kind of signal we should be on the look out for them. And for the signal. Some kind of reflection from the sun might work for them depending on time of day and direction. It is quiet, quick and leaves no trace." </p><p></p><p>Nanuet comments, "Flint, if there is anything I have learned in my life it is that vengeance does not pay. You will do your partner's memory no good by killing all of these men in his name." The image of a certain innocent centaur lying dead behind a boarding house overwhelms Nanuet for a moment. He looks at a blue wampum bead in his hand for a second, swallows hard. </p><p></p><p>Jake whispers to the dwarf "Hey Flint, how about you show me the finer points of working with that dynamite, you know, just in case we need some rubble or something cleared..." He then looks at Al. "You've been to the caves, any thoughts?" </p><p></p><p>She replies "There were a series of caves that appeared to have been recently inhabited. One large cave included some bunks, a woodstove that was vented through a pipe in the roof to the outside, cooking gear, and a trunk with food and beverages. A larger adjacent cave had a forge and various branding equipment, shovels and a wheelbarrow filled with manure. We concluded that this was recently used as a hideout for cattle rustlers. There were also another group of caves higher up the mountain above the mouth of that set of caves but we didn't investigate those since it would have been hard for the horse to climb. I doubt they would have been able to get the cattle up there. That larger cave was big enough that you could have fit over 100 cattle if you packed them in tightly.</p><p></p><p>Nanuet continues, "As we approach the caves, I will scout ahead and see what they have as far as guards. Then we will take strategic positions to cover the cave and call out Harvey Knowles. We will let them know that we have their position covered, not giving up our numbers and try and take them peacefully. I know it is an unlikely scenario, but I feel we must try. Once we find out who Knowles is we must try to not kill him, I must bring him to Geronimo. Very basic I know, and I am open to suggestions."</p><p></p><p>"Well, I have to agree we need to understand what we are up against. So your scouting ahead seems like the best idea to me." Jake says to Nanuet. "Though you should have someone not too far behind to help cover you just in case. I don't know who is best skilled to do that in this group. I'm a city boy and don't know anything about moving quietly and hiding out here, but if there is no one better I'll cover you." </p><p></p><p>"But I don't think calling them out to surrender will work. We lose surprise just to offer them an appointment with a noose. If we don't have anything better to offer, why would they come out? I'm hoping that your scouting gives us some new ideas. What do you all think?" He finishes looking around. "I'm good at being quiet, I can sneak up there too." says Ruby.</p><p></p><p>Nanuet states, "Well my intentions were always to capture and turn them into the proper authorities, not murder. Then again, I am doing this to assist Flint and the Cartwrights. I don't have a badge myself and I don't have anything to gain except maybe a favor in return. If we are not here to have them surrender to us, then I am not sure why we are here. " Nanuet scratches his head for a moment then says 'Maybe we should try and capture the scouts first, if there are any, and go from there?'</p><p></p><p>The Cartwrights like that idea as well. The do agree with Jake about not blowing the element of surprise, as they see that as the only way to survive an encounter where they are outnumbered more than two-to-one and the other side has the advantage of defendable high ground. </p><p></p><p>Al leads the group onward for the next half-hour as the sun finally shows itself over the mountains. When they are on the far side of the hill immediately in front of the mountain with the caves she suggests that they tie up the horse and proceed from here on foot. </p><p></p><p>From there they circumnavigate the hills to come up on the mountain with the caves from the side where the sun could be reflected using a mirror. The Cartwrights and Barkleys agree to hold position there with Flint and Katherine. Flint makes sure that Jake has six sticks of dynamite and instructions as to how to light them. Nanuet, Ruby and Jake move on.</p><p></p><p>As the others moved silently away Kate leaned back against a large rock jutting up from the ground. She knew she would be no help to the others, but she still hated sending them off on their own; especially since it was she who had asked Jake and Ruby to come. Suddenly she felt very lonely. </p><p></p><p>She pushed her long braid back over her shoulder and bushed some dirt off her pants. Not long after they'd been married Tom insisted that if she was going to continue riding that she dress sensibly. Riding side-saddle in a dress was a good way to break your neck, he'd insisted. So pants it was. Her Father nearly had a fit, but Tom eventually won him over. She still got a secret little thrill each time she slipped into her riding clothes. </p><p></p><p>'I should write home,' she thought suddenly. It had been 2 months since she'd done so, and they were probably worried. Well, if she got out of this intact she'd make sure to do it. She tipped her hat back in an unconcious imitation of Jake and smiled at the others.</p><p></p><p>The trio makes their way up a small ledge on the side of the mountain leading to the caves that Al spoke of. Ruby's keen observation skills spot a thin wire across the road before Nanuet can trip it. Jake traces the wire over and up, finding it connecting to a trap on the trail just above them designed to release a pile of rocks onto the heads of travelers on the ledge while simultaneously triggering two cowbells tied to it. Jake carefully cuts the wire and reties both ends on both sides of the trail to possibly prevent his allies behind from triggering it. </p><p></p><p>Now that they are alerted to that type of trap they keep their eyes open, finding two more similar traps which they likewise deactivate. They continue forward and begin to round a bend. Nanuet stops and peers around, seeing the mouth of the first cave on the other side. The narrow ledge continues for fifty feet right up to a larger ledge at the cave mouth. Unfortunately there are at three guards armed with both rifles and handguns waiting there and possibly more inside the cave. None of the guards were looking in Nanuet's direction, one looking down to the valley below while the other two were talking to each other.</p><p></p><p>Ruby reflects on the description that Nanuet just gave them. She takes a deep breath in before speaking. "We have two choices that I can see. One, walk right up and tell them Geronimo sent us to find Knowles. That might not be the best idea but worth a shot. They might not want to piss off the Indians if you know what I mean. Or two, get these guys away from the cave and sweet talk them a bit into giving us more information about what is going on. I guess we have to knock them out unless we have a way to shut them up. </p><p></p><p>Ruby pauses. "I vote choice number two. We throw some rocks or something and draw them away from the cave a bit. I know I can sneak up behind them but I can't take all three of them." Jake says "Choice one could only be Nanuet walking up, and if that one didn't work and they take him in our already poor odds get worse." Jake adds with dissapointment in his voice, "And that would rule out throwing dynamite in the hole. Choice two would only work it all three of those men wanted to come check something out. And that would only work if it was something each wanted but didn't want the others to get." He adds, "Human nature being as generous as it is." He shrugs his shoulders and says apologetically. "I'm outta ideas."</p><p></p><p>Nanuet put hides his knife behind his back and under his shirt, givng Jake his other weapons. He walks out alone behind the bend holding his hands up in the air and saying something in the Apache language. This catches the attention of all three guards, one of whom points his rifle while the others draw their revolvers. </p><p></p><p>"Geronimo wants to speak to Harvey Knowles," the elf says. Two guards relax but the one with the rifle remains tense and continues to point his weapon "Who?" that guard states. One of the other guards comes up to him and gestures with his hand to lower the rifle, telling the man "Harvey's the guy who talks to the Injuns. This red-skin don't mean no harm, calm down." </p><p></p><p>That man walks to the end of the larger ledge, where is is now around fifteen feet from Nanuet, and says "He's in the upper cave with Curley Bill and Frank." gesturing to the caves higher up which the group had seen earlier but actually can't be seen from this ledge. "I'll let them know you're coming." The man then heads over to the cave entrance and puts on a pair of leather gloves. He then lifts two thin wires that had be lying against the cliff wall, giving a tug down on one and a pull up on the other. "Go on up," he tells Nanuet.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 1836667, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter Thirty-five, “Arrival at Rustler’s Mountain”, January 7th , 1882:[/B] Al, Flint, Katherine, Nanuet and Ruby gather out front of the El Parador shortly after 6:00 AM knowing that it will be another half-hour until the first light of dawn will be coming over the horizon. The town itself is quiet on this cool Saturday morning. All six are dressed in riding clothes even Ruby, attired in some ill-fitting clothing borrowed that morning from the Hotel’s handiman Grant Keeber. Bleary eyed Jake is up in the morning shortly after the others and quietly eats a bit of breakfast and then takes something for the ride. On the way to the horses he says "Do we have any extra rifles and shotguns? I can shoot anything, but don't own any rifles. And though I love my Colt, it is not much good at a distance. Be handy to have extras just in case, for anyone who knows how to shoot one." And "They might be hiding in the caves, Flint you bringing any dynamite?" He pats the saddlebag over his shoulder and says "Eighteen sticks" Ruby shows him the horse which he doesn't inspect, he just puts the extra breakfast and a bottle in a saddlebag, rubs the horses nose a few times while saying something into her ear and mounts up. They hear the sound of horses in the distance, as five mounted men ride forward. They recognize the three Cartwright brothers. Adam introduces the other two as his brothers-in-law Nick and Heath Barkley. They have an extra horse with them, explaining that it is for Flint as his mule would slow them down too much. The dwarf starts to complain about that until Katherine reminds him that they are all doing this as a favor for him. Everyone mounts up and the eleven ride off to the southeast along the main road to Galeyville. Katherine hadn't had the chance to resize the riding clothes she'd bought the day before, so instead she wore her equestrian clothes from the East. She felt rather out of place, and a bit out of sorts. Jake's comments the night before had haunted her sleep. What did they intend to do when they found these men? Their intent was to take them to the County Sheriff. But she'd seen enough already to know that unless they caught them completely unaware, they'd fight. They'd rather die from a bullet than a rope. Tom's pistol felt heavy and unfamiliar tucked in the pocket of her jacket. She looked at Jake and Ruby. She had brought them here; what if something happened to them? But what if's were dangerous. Kate took a firmer hold on the reins and sat up straight, the pistol pulling her jacket down on one side. She would use it if she had to. “What the hell am I doing out here?” thought Ruby sleepily. She was not a morning person by any stretch and this hour was just ungodly. She was tired from the day before. It had been a long, strange day. Sure she had felt great but when she thought back to some of the things that happened or that she agreed to she wondered what she had been thinking. And true it was great that the Whipples felt they could rely on her to bring in money for the Lone Star but they were making it harder and harder for her to just leave if she wanted to. She was already starting to feel tied down. Most of her thoughts centered on now though. Her borrowed clothes were falling off and she wasn’t even sure what she could do to help out. Her specialty was avoiding altercations such as the one they were riding right into. It didn’t help that she was still practically asleep. They had been riding for a little over an hour. The first light of dawn had crept over the mountains to the east but the sun hadn't showed itself yet. They reached the turn in the road that the Apache had spoken of and turned east. They cross an area rich in vegetation, with a variety of plants and trees. They soon reach the field with the large sycamore tree and ride up to it. The Apache had done as they asked and placed stones to represent the cave's occupants. "Good thing we brought so many of us," Flint comments as they count out twenty-six stones. “What the heck did that mean? Ruby thought. “Is there some sort of plan here or what?” she asked to no one in particular. "Care to elaborate on that Flint?" Says Jake apparently coming out of his half asleep state, stretching and rubbing his eyes. "And I wouldn't mind if someone answers Miss West's question either." He looks around the vast lands around him thinking that there are plenty of places for a man with a gun to hide. Adam Cartwright answers the first question stating "The Apache said they would leave one stone here for each rustler hiding out in the caves. I count twenty-six stones." Flint interjects "Plan's simple. We sneak up on the caves, toss in the lit sticks of dynamite, and shoot anyone still alive in the caves afterwards." Kate exclaims "If that's the plan, I'm turning around and going back to Promise City. I didn't come out here to kill people. At least, not as anything but a last resort." Jake smiles and shakes his head a couple of times. "I'm glad we are all in agreement then." Katherine gives him one of her looks and he clears his throat and looks away. "Except for the implications on my standings in the afterlife, I like Flint's plan. But I don't think we'll get that chance. I don't know how far away we are from the caves, but if I had 26 people I think I'd have a few of them out as scouts or spotters. Whenever we are in range of some kind of signal we should be on the look out for them. And for the signal. Some kind of reflection from the sun might work for them depending on time of day and direction. It is quiet, quick and leaves no trace." Nanuet comments, "Flint, if there is anything I have learned in my life it is that vengeance does not pay. You will do your partner's memory no good by killing all of these men in his name." The image of a certain innocent centaur lying dead behind a boarding house overwhelms Nanuet for a moment. He looks at a blue wampum bead in his hand for a second, swallows hard. Jake whispers to the dwarf "Hey Flint, how about you show me the finer points of working with that dynamite, you know, just in case we need some rubble or something cleared..." He then looks at Al. "You've been to the caves, any thoughts?" She replies "There were a series of caves that appeared to have been recently inhabited. One large cave included some bunks, a woodstove that was vented through a pipe in the roof to the outside, cooking gear, and a trunk with food and beverages. A larger adjacent cave had a forge and various branding equipment, shovels and a wheelbarrow filled with manure. We concluded that this was recently used as a hideout for cattle rustlers. There were also another group of caves higher up the mountain above the mouth of that set of caves but we didn't investigate those since it would have been hard for the horse to climb. I doubt they would have been able to get the cattle up there. That larger cave was big enough that you could have fit over 100 cattle if you packed them in tightly. Nanuet continues, "As we approach the caves, I will scout ahead and see what they have as far as guards. Then we will take strategic positions to cover the cave and call out Harvey Knowles. We will let them know that we have their position covered, not giving up our numbers and try and take them peacefully. I know it is an unlikely scenario, but I feel we must try. Once we find out who Knowles is we must try to not kill him, I must bring him to Geronimo. Very basic I know, and I am open to suggestions." "Well, I have to agree we need to understand what we are up against. So your scouting ahead seems like the best idea to me." Jake says to Nanuet. "Though you should have someone not too far behind to help cover you just in case. I don't know who is best skilled to do that in this group. I'm a city boy and don't know anything about moving quietly and hiding out here, but if there is no one better I'll cover you." "But I don't think calling them out to surrender will work. We lose surprise just to offer them an appointment with a noose. If we don't have anything better to offer, why would they come out? I'm hoping that your scouting gives us some new ideas. What do you all think?" He finishes looking around. "I'm good at being quiet, I can sneak up there too." says Ruby. Nanuet states, "Well my intentions were always to capture and turn them into the proper authorities, not murder. Then again, I am doing this to assist Flint and the Cartwrights. I don't have a badge myself and I don't have anything to gain except maybe a favor in return. If we are not here to have them surrender to us, then I am not sure why we are here. " Nanuet scratches his head for a moment then says 'Maybe we should try and capture the scouts first, if there are any, and go from there?' The Cartwrights like that idea as well. The do agree with Jake about not blowing the element of surprise, as they see that as the only way to survive an encounter where they are outnumbered more than two-to-one and the other side has the advantage of defendable high ground. Al leads the group onward for the next half-hour as the sun finally shows itself over the mountains. When they are on the far side of the hill immediately in front of the mountain with the caves she suggests that they tie up the horse and proceed from here on foot. From there they circumnavigate the hills to come up on the mountain with the caves from the side where the sun could be reflected using a mirror. The Cartwrights and Barkleys agree to hold position there with Flint and Katherine. Flint makes sure that Jake has six sticks of dynamite and instructions as to how to light them. Nanuet, Ruby and Jake move on. As the others moved silently away Kate leaned back against a large rock jutting up from the ground. She knew she would be no help to the others, but she still hated sending them off on their own; especially since it was she who had asked Jake and Ruby to come. Suddenly she felt very lonely. She pushed her long braid back over her shoulder and bushed some dirt off her pants. Not long after they'd been married Tom insisted that if she was going to continue riding that she dress sensibly. Riding side-saddle in a dress was a good way to break your neck, he'd insisted. So pants it was. Her Father nearly had a fit, but Tom eventually won him over. She still got a secret little thrill each time she slipped into her riding clothes. 'I should write home,' she thought suddenly. It had been 2 months since she'd done so, and they were probably worried. Well, if she got out of this intact she'd make sure to do it. She tipped her hat back in an unconcious imitation of Jake and smiled at the others. The trio makes their way up a small ledge on the side of the mountain leading to the caves that Al spoke of. Ruby's keen observation skills spot a thin wire across the road before Nanuet can trip it. Jake traces the wire over and up, finding it connecting to a trap on the trail just above them designed to release a pile of rocks onto the heads of travelers on the ledge while simultaneously triggering two cowbells tied to it. Jake carefully cuts the wire and reties both ends on both sides of the trail to possibly prevent his allies behind from triggering it. Now that they are alerted to that type of trap they keep their eyes open, finding two more similar traps which they likewise deactivate. They continue forward and begin to round a bend. Nanuet stops and peers around, seeing the mouth of the first cave on the other side. The narrow ledge continues for fifty feet right up to a larger ledge at the cave mouth. Unfortunately there are at three guards armed with both rifles and handguns waiting there and possibly more inside the cave. None of the guards were looking in Nanuet's direction, one looking down to the valley below while the other two were talking to each other. Ruby reflects on the description that Nanuet just gave them. She takes a deep breath in before speaking. "We have two choices that I can see. One, walk right up and tell them Geronimo sent us to find Knowles. That might not be the best idea but worth a shot. They might not want to piss off the Indians if you know what I mean. Or two, get these guys away from the cave and sweet talk them a bit into giving us more information about what is going on. I guess we have to knock them out unless we have a way to shut them up. Ruby pauses. "I vote choice number two. We throw some rocks or something and draw them away from the cave a bit. I know I can sneak up behind them but I can't take all three of them." Jake says "Choice one could only be Nanuet walking up, and if that one didn't work and they take him in our already poor odds get worse." Jake adds with dissapointment in his voice, "And that would rule out throwing dynamite in the hole. Choice two would only work it all three of those men wanted to come check something out. And that would only work if it was something each wanted but didn't want the others to get." He adds, "Human nature being as generous as it is." He shrugs his shoulders and says apologetically. "I'm outta ideas." Nanuet put hides his knife behind his back and under his shirt, givng Jake his other weapons. He walks out alone behind the bend holding his hands up in the air and saying something in the Apache language. This catches the attention of all three guards, one of whom points his rifle while the others draw their revolvers. "Geronimo wants to speak to Harvey Knowles," the elf says. Two guards relax but the one with the rifle remains tense and continues to point his weapon "Who?" that guard states. One of the other guards comes up to him and gestures with his hand to lower the rifle, telling the man "Harvey's the guy who talks to the Injuns. This red-skin don't mean no harm, calm down." That man walks to the end of the larger ledge, where is is now around fifteen feet from Nanuet, and says "He's in the upper cave with Curley Bill and Frank." gesturing to the caves higher up which the group had seen earlier but actually can't be seen from this ledge. "I'll let them know you're coming." The man then heads over to the cave entrance and puts on a pair of leather gloves. He then lifts two thin wires that had be lying against the cliff wall, giving a tug down on one and a pull up on the other. "Go on up," he tells Nanuet. [/QUOTE]
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