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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 1987136" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 84, “Declaration of War”, January 10, 1882:In reference to Lacey’s disappointment Ruby replies, "He was huh? Poor guy. Well, I'm sure he'll enjoy his lunch today," she says winking. "Besides I already made it up to him, I spent lots of Jake's money in his store."The room soon fills up and before long all eighty chairs a filled with another dozen people standing along the back wall. Maggie takes a seat beside Katherine and the man on the other side of her gets up to let Tom take the seat next to Maggie. Katherine and Ruby recognize around one-third of the people in the room, most by face rather than by name. The town’s two lawyers, Hamilton Fisk and Mitchell Berg are both present, seated on opposite sides of the room. Evan Adair arrives with his girl Kitty on one arm and the strumpet Suzie Foreman. They walk to the front of the room and three men seated in the first row give up their seats to the three. Unlike the previous times that they had seen these women they both are dressed in conservative high-collared formal clothing. Wyatt Earp arrives. Wyatt has his gun drawn on the three prisoners, Job Kane, Marvin Keach and Dudley Yeats, whose hands are shackled together. Maggie mutters “How embarrassing. Marshall Hollister wouldn’t use restraints or firearms on prisoners unless it was absolutely necessary.” The prisoners are gestured to sit down on the edge of the dancehall stage. Morgan Earp takes out his revolver and points in the direction of the prisoners' backs. Meanwhile, back at the El Parador Nanuet is seated and waiting for Sonoma. The miner Patrick Seawell enters the building, looks around, and then comes down and sits with Nanuet. Seawell says, "You look better than when I saw you last. I was looking for that Mexican woman you rode out to the mining site with. Would you know where she is?"No, I actually don't know where she is. She said she would meet me back in town. What is your business with her if you don't mind asking?  He replies, "Actually, business is what I wish to talk about.  It looks like I'll be severing ties with my former mining partners. I spoke to the carriage driver from this morning, Zack Morand, about forming a new partnership with his family. They own a large cattle ranch in the area and have the money to invest in the new venture. I just need to talk to the family patriarch to finalize the deal. So once we get the business established we'll need some places to mine. I found what I think is a promising spot up in the Dos Cabezas Mountains, but a family of wood elves who raise sheep there currently owns the land. I'm willing to pay them a very fair price for the land, but when I tried talking to them around a month ago I discovered that they don't speak English, and I don't speak either Elvish or Spanish. So I would like to hire your friend as a translator."He replies, “Sounds like an interesting proposition, but I can't speak for her. Like I said, she is supposed to meet me here back in town. I can give her a message if you'd like. Where can I tell her to look for you if she is interested?”  Seawell answers, I'll just check in back here. I've got several more things to take care of in town today, but I'll be around. He then departs. Over at the bank, following the introduction by Chester shakes Condon's hand. "Good morning, Mr. Condon. I'm Chester Martin. Mr. Cook has told me what a wonderful boss you are. I hope I can live up to his confidence in me. AS far as my qualifications go, I served in the United States Army with the Fifth Cavalry out of Fort McPherson, Nebraska for five years."  Condon answers, "Well. I guess you can stick around for now, seeing as how I'll be short-handed. Do you have your own weapons?"  "Yes, sir. A revolver and a repeating rifle. Plus a couple which used to be longarms." He holds up the bent rifle. "I'm not sure what happened to this."  Chester and Jake continue to have a dull day at the bank. It isn't as busy as Monday had been. Condon isn't all that sure about Chester and is keeping an eye on both of them.Back at the Comique, Deputy Sheriff Colin Hunter steps into the room and announces, “All rise for Judge Nathan Isby.” Hunter holds the door as a tall man wearing a black robe over a dark suit enters the building. Isby looks to be in his early forties, with dark hair that is starting to gray on his sideburns and long droopy mustache. He has a square-shaped face with a chiseled jaw and walks with a slight limp.  Ruby and Katherine both notice Judge Lacey enter after and take a place standing along the back wall.  Isby walks over behind a table that has been set up near the stage. He says, “You may all be seated.” Everyone in the room except for Colin Hunter sits down. Hunter remains standing near the table and acts the part of bailiff. Isby taps the proceedings into order with the gavel and announces, “On today, this tenth day of January, Eighteen-eighty-two, and ten-thirty in the morning, the Seventh Circuit Court of Southeastern Arizona Territory is called into session. The Seventh Circuit Court serves eastern and Chochise and Graham Counties and holds court in the communities of Clifton, Safford, Promise City and Wilcox. All rulings made by myself, Judge Nathan Isby, are final unless appealed to the Territorial Governor within five days of today’s date. Colin Hunter states, “When each witness is called that are to come forward and swear to the Gods of Rome and Greece that they will speak truthfully. Each witness is to then state their full legal name, current place of residence and occupation.”   Isby then reads from a paper before him “The first case is the Town of Promise City vs. Kane and Keach. The charges are levied against both Job Kane and Marvin Keach for disturbing the peace and the discharge of firearms within a public structure. Testimony will be heard on this case in the following order: Deputy Marshall Morgan Earp, Mr. Thomas Whipple, Miss. Suzanne Foreman, Mr. Jake Cook, Mrs. Thomas Kale, Miss. Ruby West, Doctor James Eaton and lastly from both of the accused. Are all of those parties present in this courtroom today?”Ruby stands up and faces the judge. "I am here, your Honor, Miss Ruby West. Mr. Cook is not presently here but will be soon."  She excuses herself for a moment and goes out the door. The boys are still there playing nicely just like she said.  "Ok boys, remember what I told you? Go get Mr. Cook, fast as you can." That is all she has to say, they take off running down the street.  As Jake is doing his normal guard duty he notices two small boys run up to the bank doors. They stop, leaning in the doorway, trying to catch their breath. When they look up and see him they nudge each other and slowly walk up to him.  “You Silver Jake Cook?” they ask. “Miss Ruby sent us. She said to look for the most handsome man in the bank. And she said you would be wearing a lucky black hat and if we were good maybe you would let us touch it. She’s gonna give us a whole dollar when we give you the message and bring you back.” The other boy interrupts the first, “We’re supposed to bring you back to the Comique for the trial, they need you there.” Then the first boy interrupts again, “And she said if we was fast bringing you back we could get a kiss too, so you’d better hurry and get ready. She sure is pretty Mr. Jake, is she your girl?” The two boys elbow each other and laugh."Hold on a moment boys." Jake gets Morgan Condon’s attention. "They are looking for me at the court house. Do you want Mr. Martin to stay?" Condon agrees to let Jake leave, but he and Chester also notice him strapping on his own sidearm.  Chester says, "Mr. Condon, if it'll make you feel any better, you can hold my Spencer and I'll just have my six-gun." Just being careful" he replies, adding "Deadeye Douglas of the Douglas Gang was seen in the area a few days ago. Can't go taking any chances."Jake then follows the boys back to the court house, thinking about what the boy asked him. "Let's hurry so you can get that kiss. Let me tell you they are something special." Before he goes in he narrows his eyes at the boys and rests his hand on his revolver. "It's ok if you kiss her, but not too long. Right?" And he goes inside trying to hold in his laugh.Ruby sees Jake walk in so she waves him over to their seats. She gets up and walks past him, “I guess the boys did their job?’” she says winking at him. “Excuse me for a minute I have to go pay up.”   She squeezes down the aisle and stands in the doorway. Manuel and Ritchie are standing there waiting excitedly. “Here is your dollar boys, you did a great job.” She hands them a dollar. “Don’t spend it too fast now.” She stands there looking at them with wide smiles on their faces. Ritchie finally gets up the nerve to ask, “Miss Ruby did we get here fast enough?”  “Oh I did promise you kisses, didn’t I? Well, yes, you got here very fast. Who’s first?” Manuel steps forward and Ruby leans down and gives him a kiss on the lips, then does the same for Ritchie. The boys stand there with big dumb smiles on their faces. She tussles their hair and starts walking away. “See you around boys.” She winks at them and makes her way back to her seat. She smiles as she takes a seat between Jake and Katherine. “Did I miss anything?”Morgan Earp is still on the stand giving a quick recounting of what he was told following his arrival at the Lone Star the previous Thursday. Ruby notes that while testifying he looks at the judge and the accused but avoids making eye contact with the rest of the audience. Tom Whipple is the next to testify. He tells of renting the room to Miss Foreman while not being aware of her line of work. He explains that Job Kane, an employee of his establishment, went upstairs to ask Miss. Foreman to leave. He says that after the shooting began three of his other employees Jake Cook, Katherine Kale and Ruby West, headed upstairs and the shooting stopped. Shortly thereafter they returned.” Suzie Foreman is the next one called to the stand. She testifies “I was a new arrival in town last Thursday and the Lone Star was the first establishment that I went too. I spoke to Mr. Whipple and explained to him what my profession was. He agreed to let me use the room and said that he required twenty percent of whatever monies I brought in.” Tom loudly exclaims, “That’s not true! She’s lying!” The Judge pounds the gavel and tells him “Sir, you have already had an opportunity to speak. If you have anything further to add you will be granted an opportunity at the conclusion of all scheduled testimony, otherwise you will hold your tongue or be removed from the premises.” Ruby notes that both Evan Adair and his girl Kitty have slight grins on their faces while the Judge delivers the reprimand to Tom. Miss Foreman continues her testimony and in response to Tom’s remarks says, “I am new to this town and I have absolutely no reason to lie. Mr. Keach was my third customer that evening.  There had been no objections raised up until that point about my profession. In fact, Tom Whipple had given me friendly nods and smiles all evening, which I took as his approval. But I’ve been told since then that he flirts with and seeks favors from all of his female employees.” Katherine hears Flossie gasp at that accusation, with a sad expression on her face as tears then well up in her eyes. Ruby notices that Tom and Maggie Whipple are both beat red with anger and are using every ounce of self-restraint that they can muster to keep from another outburst. Several people are now talking and gossiping throughout the room and the word ‘Tomcat’ is stated more than once.Katherine reached over and took Maggie's hand. "They can say what they want, but they can't make it true," she whispered helplessly. "And from looking at Flossie, I think she still cares for Tom. But Maggie, they all know about Saturday night. Evan Adair would have made sure of it. When I give my testimony I may be asked about Tom, and I can't lie. He didn't do anything but it will still look bad."The Judge hits his gavel and calls for the room to come back to order. He turns to the witness and says, “Miss Foreman, Mr. Whipple is not the one on trial here today. Please just explain in your own words what transpired in the upstairs room between Mr. Kane and Mr. Keach.” She says “Job Kane barged into my room unannounced, pointed a revolver at myself and Mr. Keach and then threatened us both with bodily harm. Mr. Keach surrendered and then began to get dressed. That is when Mr. Kane started firing his gun at us. Mr. Keach fired back only in self-defense. The others then arrived at the door and ordered both men to drop their weapons. Mr. Keach was happy to oblige, but Mr. Kane was still out for blood and needed further convincing before he lowered his.” She concludes by stating, “After it was all over the men headed downstairs and I remained behind with the two women. Miss. West pulled me aside out of earshot of her friend Mrs. Kale and indicated that she had initiated the entire confrontation between the two men. I believe her quote to me was “I don’t want or need any competition from the likes of you. Any soliciting at the Lone Star will be done by me.”  A number of people in the audience begin talking to each other as both newspapermen are writing frantically. Katherine notices that Judge Lacey leaves the building, an expression of sadness on his face. As the noise level the room increases Judge Isby again pounds his gavel to restore order. Ruby stands up, obviously extremely angry. She yells, "You lying... Your ass of a boss is just mad because he couldn't have me, I wouldn't come to the Palace and sell myself like you!" Judge Isby slams his gavel and loudly declares "Miss West. You are scheduled to testify shortly and will be given that opportunity. If you speak out-of-turn again I will have you taken into custody and charged with contempt of court! Be seated and be silent young woman!"Katherine could see that Ruby was about to speak again. She reached up, grabbed hold of her sleeved, and yanked Ruby back into her seat. "You'll have your chance. And shouting isn't helping your case," she whispered. "There should be enough testimony from others to prove she's lying."  She stole a glance over at Evan Adair. Suzie Forman hadn't disparaged herself or Jake, only Ruby. Ruby was probably right, he was holding grudges over Ruby's refusal to work for him, and he was doing everything he could to destroy her.</blockquote>

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