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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2454354" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 128 ,“Maggie’s Future”, Saturday, January 14th, 1882:</strong></p><p></p><p>Nanuet smiles at the couple, then laughs and shakes his head "Well, now everybody is here except the woman I need to speak to. This place has gotten to be just too much." Nanuet pauses and grabs a towel from the bar and begins to dry himself off before continuing. "I have just come back from spending some time across the street at the church. I met someone who is supposed to be Sonoma's mentor. This woman informed me that "the path the world will take is dependant on me and gave me this vial" he says holding the vial out for everyone to see. "I have no idea if this has anything to do with Riley's dream. I have no idea what this has to do with me!" With that final outburst, Nanuet sits down and buries his head in his hands, still holding the vial of dark liquid.</p><p></p><p>The little group looks from one to another with questioning glances and then back to Nanuet holding the vial. "Look at the bright side, it could be worse." Jake states flatly. Everyone looks at him with curious glances. "It could be dependent on me." he says with a grin. "Ja-ake!" Ruby says as she punches him in the arm. </p><p></p><p>"Ow." He takes a half step away from her and holds his arm. "This would be a fine time for a round of drinks.", he says loudly enough for the bartender to hear while eyeing the distance between himself and Ruby's still fisted hand. He gives her the lost puppy dog eyes but can't stop from grinning. "Look Nanuet, I'm only kidding. We're your friends, we won't make you change the path of the world alone." He pauses a moment. "Though it sounds pretty stupid when I say it, doesn't it?"</p><p></p><p>Nanuet can't help but laugh at Jake's comments. "I think you are right, I could use a drink. No comment on your other question at the moment though." Nanuet helps get glasses out and waits for the bartender to fill them with whiskey then passes them out to any willing takers. As he makes his way about the room he says "I am just not used to life moving so fast. And it is worse when the parts you want to speed up get slowed down and the parts you want to avoid seem to come full speed ahead."</p><p></p><p>Kate says, "Yes, for a day I thought was going to be quiet, this one has turned out remarkably busy. I have a little business to discuss myself. But Nanuet's first. Did the woman who gave you the vial say anything else?" He replies, "A lot of cryptic things about Earth spirits and using this vial to put on our weapons, but not to touch it, and that part I already said about the path of the world being dependant on me. Then she went silent and I found out that Sonoma is the woman's apprentice."</p><p></p><p>Kate answers, "I would wager the vial has to do with Riley. He saw us defending something. And it sounded like something that wasn't natural; that didn't belong. We may need that to be able to do whatever it is we need to do. At least we won't have to wait to long. This week, someone said. As for the future course of the world? That I can't help you with. Sonoma is your girl for that, I think."</p><p></p><p>"Future of the world?" Ruby suddenly repeats. "How about we worry about the future of this bottle of whiskey! Haven't we had enough drama as of late?" Nanuet replies, "Well, hopefully she will have some answers since it was her mentor who sprung this on me. And I thought this was going to be a relaxing weekend. Any other events going on that we should all know about since most of us are here?"</p><p></p><p>"Well, Jake and I are going over to visit Mr. Weems this afternoon to get some information that Jake thinks will be helpful." Ruby sees the confused look on Nanuet's face. Nanuet then turns to Ruby and nods in agreement. "I thought so too, but you can't stop the ball once it is rolling. The other issue to discuss is whether or not we want to try and get that bastard that shot Jake." He then returns to the bar, grabs the whiskey and begins refilling glasses. Ruby says, "Pinto Joe, the guy who paid those guys $20 to make sure we didn't make it back from the mine? Anyway, Doc Eaton is coming to get us at some point." </p><p></p><p>As he is walking back with the bottle Nanuet hears Ruby say "Pinto Joe..." and he stops in his track. "Speaking of bastards! That is the guy who paid the bandits who shot at us that day on the trip back from the mine! He is here in town? What next?!? Oh, and sorry to talk over you Miss Ruby, your pardon please."</p><p></p><p>Dorita brings out plates of food similar to what Chester and Jeff Mills are eating. In response to Nanuet's question she says "My daughter left fairly early morning with Jake's mine man friend Seawell, something about elves selling land near Dos Cabezas. Said she'd be back with lamb meat. I not cook that in a long time. She's planning to go with you and grandfather out to that ranch later today so she should be back soon." </p><p></p><p>Ruby turns to Kate, "Hey how did it go at the Lone Star last night?" "Last night at the Lone Star. Not so well, to be honest. William Whipple is a horrible man," she said quietly. "A fight broke out, and he didn't even give Maggie the chance to take care of it. He screamed at me, saying it was my fault and tried to hit "Louise" when she pointed out that he was wrong about what had been going on. Jeff and Job had to grab him and hold him back." </p><p></p><p>As everyone sits down to eat the door to the Cantina opens up and in comes a halfling. Chumbley tosses off his rain poncho and is holding a stack of newspapers and yells out "Promise City Edition, Hot off the Presses, Eight pages only five cents." Kate tells Ruby "There's more, much better news, but after he leaves." Kate dug out a nickel. "Shall we see if we made the news again?"</p><p></p><p>They call Chumbley over to buy some of his newspapers. He is happier and more excited than usual, if that is possible. He exclaims "I DID IT! I caught the six-o'clock stage to Tombstone last night, stayed up all night with the printer getting the paper done and made it back on the nine-AM stage! I beat the Herald and they didn't even have to leave town! When I peeked in the window they were still printing them!" Kate says, "Congratulations, Mr. Chumbley. It's always a pleasure to hear that someone has spooked Mr. Baxter's wheel." </p><p></p><p>The paper is eight-pages long with the main story taking up all of pages one and two. Most of the other six pages are ads for various businesses in town, with a few minor news stories and fluff pieces tossed in to fill out the paper. The main story reads: </p><p></p><p><strong>Tombstone Epitaph, Promise City Edition, January 14th </strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Dudley Yeats Escapes From Jail then Dies During Bank Robbery </strong></p><p></p><p><em>On Tuesday, January 10th the Trail Dust Saloon Owner Dudley Yeats was sentenced to five years behind bars for shooting at Wyatt Earp. But little more than two days he was out, an escaped prisoner. However, his newfound freedom didn’t last as he soon found himself yet again on the receiving end of Marshall Earp’s gun sights and Wyatt had lost his patience with the man. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>On Wednesday, January 10th Deputy Sheriff Hunter escorted Yeats to the County Jail in Tombstone. The same day Tombstone Marshall Virgil Earp along with his brothers and Deputy Marshall’s Morgan and Warren rounded up suspected members of the Cowboy Gang on suspicion of robbing the Bisbee/Tombstone Wells Fargo Stage. Nine arrests were made on that day and the next and by Thursday nightfall the County Jail was full. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>But while Sheriff Behan was away having supper the Cowboy Gang retaliated, blowing up the rear wall of the jail with dynamite. Six prisoners escaped including Yeats. Interestingly enough four of the prisoners, Johnny Ringo and three of the Clanton Clan remained behind when they could have escaped, again proclaiming their innocence. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Yeats showed up the following day in Promise City in the company of Arthur ‘Deadeye’ Douglas and the Koonz Brothers Gang who are now apparently the New Douglas Gang. The Koonz Brothers, Brice and Elmer, and their associates Pinto Joe Weems, Shotgun Sally Fox and Mongo Bailey have been suspected of rustling cattle throughout the county for the last year but were never convicted of any crime. (Continued on page two) </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Robbery at Condon’s Bank (continued from page one) </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>The robbery began with Deadeye Douglas and Elmer Koonz entering the bank and meeting with Frank Condon under the guise of being new customers. Weems, Fox and Yeat’s wife Pamela then entered, also pretending to be customers. Bailey and Yeats then busted through the front door armed for bear. Both of the Condon’s Bank guards, Chester Martin and Jake Cooke, attempted to defend the bank and were both shot for their efforts although not seriously. It should be noted that unlike other robbery gangs the previous Douglas Gang always made an effort to avoid killing. Weems was seriously shot by the guards and left behind when the other outlaws fled with the money. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Brice Koonz was waiting for the Gang with their horses but by then Marshall Earp had arrived. He shot Yeats who fell from his horse and into a trough of water, spilling it into the street. Pamela dismounted and ran to her husband. Douglas, Bailey and the Koonz brothers rode off to the southwest and Wyatt pursued on foot, managing to wound Brice Koonz before they rode into the hills. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>When asked about posting a reward Frank and Morgan Condon refused, stating that almost no money was taken. The New Douglas Gang was pressed for time and apparently took only “dummy” bags filled with confederate money, leaving behind the genuine currency. Morgan Condon was quoted to say, “The only real cash taken was around a hundred or so dollars from the teller’s windows. We’re not going to post a reward for more than we lost.” Deputy Sheriff Hunter has assembled a posse to hunt for the robbers. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Judge Isby had been scheduled to depart Promise City on Saturday but has agreed to stay until Monday so that Pamela Yeats can be tried for her participation in the robbery. To further add insult to injury, the site of her trial on Monday morning will be her former Trail Dust Saloon, which the Arizona Territory legally confiscated from her following Dudley Yeat’s jailbreak in lieu of the fine that he had been given. </em></p><p></p><p>Kate took a few moments to read over the article. It was all fairly factual, although it left out a good deal. Which was not to say that it they weren't things she was glad were left out. "And good reporting too." Kate then flipped through the rest of the paper, hoping Chumbley leave soon. "You should hurry, get your papers sold before Baxter hits the streets. We'll be able to hear him grinding his teeth from here."</p><p></p><p>Ruby doesn't bother with the paper as her eyes narrow. She is still hashing over Kate’s comments about the Lone Star. "What do you mean he yelled at you and tried to hit Louise??" she says slowly. Chumbley makes his way through the Cantina and sells six more papers. Then he puts on his poncho and hurries off. Jeff Mills declares "I'm stuffed. I think I'll head over to my hotel and take a nap before work tonight." He gets up and leaves as well after poking his head into the kitchen and thanking Dorita and Maggie for the meal.</p><p></p><p>Kate waited until Chumbley was gone to answer Ruby’s question. She says, "Exactly that. Maggie had invited Mr. Miller and Mr. Wyman to the Lone Star. Some miners who had already had a little too much were offended by a non-human in the saloon. They tried to ignore miners, but they obviously wanted a fight, so they went over and started on. Mr. Whipple came over to break it up. He said it was my fault for not throwing out Mr. Miller and Mr. Wyman. They had explained who they were, and Louise pointed out that he had just offended some very important men. </p><p></p><p>That's when he balled up his fists and went after her. Jeff and Job grabbed him right away. Jeff was wonderful, telling Mr. Whipple that he worked for Maggie, not him. He tried to fire Jeff, if you can believe it.” Chester pipes up, "Yeah, Maggie and Dorita cooked up a big meal for him as a reward. Anyway, it sounds like you know some of those guys who robbed the bank yesterday."</p><p></p><p>Kate says, “Before you go looking for him Ruby, we have an idea that will definitely make him very unhappy. But we really need to talk to Maggie in the next few minutes to make it work." "Ok, I'm listening..." Ruby says. Wait here just a few minutes, I'll get Maggie." Kate looked around the Cantina. It was pretty quiet. The rain was keeping most people indoors, and as was their habit, her friends had taken a table where it was unlikely they'd be overheard. She went into the kitchen and came out with Maggie. </p><p></p><p>Once they were all sitting together, Kate began to explain Mr. Gonzales' suggestion. That there was a position open in the city of Los Angeles, and that it would fit her perfectly. "Your $2000 from the sale of the Lone Star would buy you half the restaurant, and the women who would be working there will need someone like you to help them. They are women like me, but not as lucky. They have lost everything somehow, and need help starting again. The hotel will give them a place to live, and your restaurant a place to work. </p><p></p><p>But Mr. Gonzales suspects, and I agree that your father would not approve of this. So he suggests we get a lawyer and sign over your half of the Lone Star this afternoon. Tomorrow morning you find a reason to miss church, pack your things, and get on the stage to Tombstone. There you'd take a train to Tucson where Mr. Gonzales would meet you and accompany you on the rest of your trip. I know that staying with the Lone Star is what you have wanted, but this is an opportunity for you to do what you told me you wanted to. Make an oasis for people who need it, and run a place where all races are welcome. What do you think?"</p><p></p><p>Maggie is hesitant. "Father won't let me stay, and I don't want to go back to Denver. But California? I don't know anything about there. How could I manage a large restaurant by myself?" Kate answers, "You won't be alone. There will be a woman named Consuela Hernandez who will be running the hotel. She can help you. And there will be a few months of building and renovations first. You won't be jumping in feet first and neck deep. The trust set up for the women will own the other half, and I'm sure you'll have their support. It's a far better option than Denver, Maggie. I think you could be happy there."</p><p></p><p>Maggie asks several more questions and Kate spends the next fifteen minutes describing the building and Toberman's vision for the place. Maggie is finally convinced and agrees, although she is now reluctant about the idea of just sneaking away. Kate says, "We can argue about that later, Maggie. For right now, let's get the sale completed.”</p><p> </p><p>While Katherine is working hard to convince Maggie about the restaurant, Jake answers Nanuet's question. "Weems is the guy I shot at the bank. I guess that put me over the edge when I heard him called Pinto. Anyway, he's still at the docs. We are hoping he'll live long enough for us to find out who put him up to hiring the outlaws that day on our mine trip. Oh, and we can talk more about Deadeye later, but I'm not really interested in going after him."</p><p></p><p>Kate asks, “Ruby, Jake, are you ready? You still want to do this? We'll need Mr. Berg if you are. And the money, of course." Jake looks at Ruby and back to Katherine and Maggie. "Ready is never a problem with me." He laughs. "Yes," he says looking at Ruby, "we'll buy your half of the Lone Star for $2,000. We'll have to be creative on the finances, the bank is closed. I'll have to go see Condon and see what we can do." Ruby leans over to Jake and whispers, "Um, I tried to get my money out of the bank yesterday and Condon said no money until Monday..."</p><p></p><p>Kate says, "Why don't you and Ruby go do that now? And perhaps Mr. Martin might care to join you? That's a lot of money to walk around with. I have a feeling Mr. Condon will be willing to help you. After yesterday he was talking about paying you the whole weeks salary." Jake pretends to wipe a tear from his eye, "I'm all choked up, I... I... don't know what I could possibly do with that extra four and half dollars...." "Alright Jake," Kate laughed. "To a man who was just robbed four dollars and fifty cents is a big deal. Let's get a move on. I have to be ready to ride out to the ranch in a little more than an hour."</p><p></p><p>Kate says, "Maggie, why don't you and I go upstairs and talk in private?" Ruby isn't listening to the conversation, lost in her thoughts. Suddenly she speaks up, "Yes let's go find the Condons..." "OK, let's go find Condon. Chester you'll come too?" Jake asks the soldier. "Nanuet, your going to go find Sanoma and see if you can get some answers... to whatever in Hades you are carrying around. And Katherine we'll meet you two over at Berg's?"</p><p></p><p>Chester, Ruby and Jake make their way up to the Condon brothers' home at the corner of Allen and Sierra Streets. The rain is keeping people indoors so they do not see anybody for the short trip. The roads are also now an impassable mess of mud, nearly as bad as what the outlaws ran into from the prior day's magic spell. They reach the two-story clapboard house. They knock. It takes a while until Morgan arrives and peers out a peephole. He then opens the door and welcomes the trio in. They are shown into a parlor room and Frank soon joins them, offering the trio a drink from a well stocked bar.</p><p></p><p>"Thank you, Mr. Condon. I'll have a beer, please. How are you feeling?" Frank replies, "Sorry, no kegs in here Mr. Martin. Could I get you something out of a bottle?" Chet answers, "A whiskey will be fine, then." "Oh I'll take a whiskey too," Ruby chimes in quickly.</p><p></p><p>Jake says, "Thanks kindly gentlemen. Truth is, Miss West and myself need a favor. There is a business deal brewing and I need $2,000 now. I can't wait until Monday. Is there some way you can help us, we have enough money in accounts to cover it." Frank Condon says "Mr. Cooke, while I appreciate what you did yesterday there is no way that we are going to sponsor you in a high-stakes poker game. And I don't believe that you have nearly that much money in your accounts at our bank."</p><p></p><p>Jake says, "Begging your pardon, but I have $1,800 and Miss West has another $400. And it's not for a poker game. We are buying into a well established business, but need to keep it quite private until tomorrow noon." "What well established business?" Morgan states. "And why keep it quiet?" asks Frank. Ruby opens her mouth to respond but remains quiet when she sees Jake's face.</p><p></p><p>Jake says, "I'm trying to honor the wishes of the seller. If I tell you I will have to break confidence with them." Jake takes a sip of the whiskey. "Very nice he says. I understand you are in the business of managing money and risks. Well this is NO risk to you. I have the money to cover in the bank. And if you wish to feel completely confident, you can accompany us to Mitchel Bergs and give him the money to hold." Jake walks around the room. "You know I can keep a secret, I didn't divulge yours. I am a man of my word. And if you really don't trust me, I can provide collateral."</p><p></p><p>Frank says "Actually you already said the magic word Mr. Cooke, namely Berg. Morgan, go get $ 2,000 out of the safe." Morgan Condon heads upstairs and returns a few minutes later with a cloth bag that he then slips into the pocket of his coat. Frank walks over and looks out the back window towards Mitchell Berg's office next door and says "Looks like he's home. Let's go." Ruby jumps up and grabs Jake's hand with a big smile on her face. Pulling him up, "Come on, let's go..." She looks to Chester," You too, Chet, hurry up!" Chester says, "Alright, alright. Let me just check my gun, please. One bank robbery is enough for me."</p><p></p><p>Back at the El Parador, Kate took Maggie upstairs to her room and closed the door behind them. She sat down on the bed and tucked her legs underneath her. "I didn't want to talk about your father too much in front of the others. Private life is private after all. To be honest Maggie, I think your father would physically try to stop you from leaving. Am I wrong?" Maggie says, "He just doesn't believe that any of the Lone Star's success is mine. He thinks Tom did it all. Kate, he's never given me any credit and at this point I don't really expect him too. I appreciate all that you and Dorita's family have done for me and hope that some day I can repay such kindness.</p><p></p><p>Kate answers, "Then what is it about leaving without telling him that bothers you? Maggie, I..." Kate took a deep breath. "I saw his temper last night. He would have actually struck Sonoma. To be honest, we're afraid for your safety if he knows what's going on." Maggie starts to cry "You're right, and what Dorita just told me doesn't make me feel any better. Kate, he's counting on getting the full amount. If I leave with half of it he will look at it as me stealing Tom's money."</p><p></p><p>Kate answers, "Legally that is your money and there is nothing he can do about it. He could file legal papers and he would be laughed out of court. He can come looking for you, but Mr. Gonzales will make sure he never finds anything past Tucson." She reached out and took Maggie's hand. "It must be frightening to think of leaving your family and breaking off your ties. I know how hard being alone is. Would you tell me what Dorita told you?"</p><p></p><p>"She said that if Father had struck Sanoma he wouldn't still be alive right now. She said that the men here at the El Parador are very protective of her and would not stand for any man mistreating their little girl. Kate, I invited Mr. Wyman there last night. I am ashamed over what happened. What was I thinking? And if Father had been killed because of me...." Maggie begins to cry.</p><p></p><p>Katherine put her arms around Maggie and let her cry for a little while. "You've spent the last few days seeing a different world than the one you've been living in before. You hoped you could bring some of that into the life you know. There was nothing wrong with that. If you mean that you knew how your father would react, then yes, you made a miscalculation. But it wouldn't have been your fault if something happened to him. He's an adult and chooses his own actions. If he can't control his own temper, then someday it will catch up with him without any help from you. </p><p></p><p>Listen to me, now. I know you don't want to sneak off, but for your own safety, I think it's the best thing to do. It feels dishonest, I know, but you're an adult and you can come as go as you like. You can always let your family know where you are later if that's what you want. We need to get over to Mr. Berg's office in a few minutes. What do you think?" Maggie nods and says "Of course. You're right. Oh Kate, you've been such a good friend." "I do what I can," Kate smiled. "Friendship goes two ways Maggie. I'm going to miss you." The two women gathered up their things and went back downstairs. Maggie got her jacket and an umbrella and they walked over to Mitchell Berg's office.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 2454354, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 128 ,“Maggie’s Future”, Saturday, January 14th, 1882:[/B] Nanuet smiles at the couple, then laughs and shakes his head "Well, now everybody is here except the woman I need to speak to. This place has gotten to be just too much." Nanuet pauses and grabs a towel from the bar and begins to dry himself off before continuing. "I have just come back from spending some time across the street at the church. I met someone who is supposed to be Sonoma's mentor. This woman informed me that "the path the world will take is dependant on me and gave me this vial" he says holding the vial out for everyone to see. "I have no idea if this has anything to do with Riley's dream. I have no idea what this has to do with me!" With that final outburst, Nanuet sits down and buries his head in his hands, still holding the vial of dark liquid. The little group looks from one to another with questioning glances and then back to Nanuet holding the vial. "Look at the bright side, it could be worse." Jake states flatly. Everyone looks at him with curious glances. "It could be dependent on me." he says with a grin. "Ja-ake!" Ruby says as she punches him in the arm. "Ow." He takes a half step away from her and holds his arm. "This would be a fine time for a round of drinks.", he says loudly enough for the bartender to hear while eyeing the distance between himself and Ruby's still fisted hand. He gives her the lost puppy dog eyes but can't stop from grinning. "Look Nanuet, I'm only kidding. We're your friends, we won't make you change the path of the world alone." He pauses a moment. "Though it sounds pretty stupid when I say it, doesn't it?" Nanuet can't help but laugh at Jake's comments. "I think you are right, I could use a drink. No comment on your other question at the moment though." Nanuet helps get glasses out and waits for the bartender to fill them with whiskey then passes them out to any willing takers. As he makes his way about the room he says "I am just not used to life moving so fast. And it is worse when the parts you want to speed up get slowed down and the parts you want to avoid seem to come full speed ahead." Kate says, "Yes, for a day I thought was going to be quiet, this one has turned out remarkably busy. I have a little business to discuss myself. But Nanuet's first. Did the woman who gave you the vial say anything else?" He replies, "A lot of cryptic things about Earth spirits and using this vial to put on our weapons, but not to touch it, and that part I already said about the path of the world being dependant on me. Then she went silent and I found out that Sonoma is the woman's apprentice." Kate answers, "I would wager the vial has to do with Riley. He saw us defending something. And it sounded like something that wasn't natural; that didn't belong. We may need that to be able to do whatever it is we need to do. At least we won't have to wait to long. This week, someone said. As for the future course of the world? That I can't help you with. Sonoma is your girl for that, I think." "Future of the world?" Ruby suddenly repeats. "How about we worry about the future of this bottle of whiskey! Haven't we had enough drama as of late?" Nanuet replies, "Well, hopefully she will have some answers since it was her mentor who sprung this on me. And I thought this was going to be a relaxing weekend. Any other events going on that we should all know about since most of us are here?" "Well, Jake and I are going over to visit Mr. Weems this afternoon to get some information that Jake thinks will be helpful." Ruby sees the confused look on Nanuet's face. Nanuet then turns to Ruby and nods in agreement. "I thought so too, but you can't stop the ball once it is rolling. The other issue to discuss is whether or not we want to try and get that bastard that shot Jake." He then returns to the bar, grabs the whiskey and begins refilling glasses. Ruby says, "Pinto Joe, the guy who paid those guys $20 to make sure we didn't make it back from the mine? Anyway, Doc Eaton is coming to get us at some point." As he is walking back with the bottle Nanuet hears Ruby say "Pinto Joe..." and he stops in his track. "Speaking of bastards! That is the guy who paid the bandits who shot at us that day on the trip back from the mine! He is here in town? What next?!? Oh, and sorry to talk over you Miss Ruby, your pardon please." Dorita brings out plates of food similar to what Chester and Jeff Mills are eating. In response to Nanuet's question she says "My daughter left fairly early morning with Jake's mine man friend Seawell, something about elves selling land near Dos Cabezas. Said she'd be back with lamb meat. I not cook that in a long time. She's planning to go with you and grandfather out to that ranch later today so she should be back soon." Ruby turns to Kate, "Hey how did it go at the Lone Star last night?" "Last night at the Lone Star. Not so well, to be honest. William Whipple is a horrible man," she said quietly. "A fight broke out, and he didn't even give Maggie the chance to take care of it. He screamed at me, saying it was my fault and tried to hit "Louise" when she pointed out that he was wrong about what had been going on. Jeff and Job had to grab him and hold him back." As everyone sits down to eat the door to the Cantina opens up and in comes a halfling. Chumbley tosses off his rain poncho and is holding a stack of newspapers and yells out "Promise City Edition, Hot off the Presses, Eight pages only five cents." Kate tells Ruby "There's more, much better news, but after he leaves." Kate dug out a nickel. "Shall we see if we made the news again?" They call Chumbley over to buy some of his newspapers. He is happier and more excited than usual, if that is possible. He exclaims "I DID IT! I caught the six-o'clock stage to Tombstone last night, stayed up all night with the printer getting the paper done and made it back on the nine-AM stage! I beat the Herald and they didn't even have to leave town! When I peeked in the window they were still printing them!" Kate says, "Congratulations, Mr. Chumbley. It's always a pleasure to hear that someone has spooked Mr. Baxter's wheel." The paper is eight-pages long with the main story taking up all of pages one and two. Most of the other six pages are ads for various businesses in town, with a few minor news stories and fluff pieces tossed in to fill out the paper. The main story reads: [B]Tombstone Epitaph, Promise City Edition, January 14th Dudley Yeats Escapes From Jail then Dies During Bank Robbery [/B] [I]On Tuesday, January 10th the Trail Dust Saloon Owner Dudley Yeats was sentenced to five years behind bars for shooting at Wyatt Earp. But little more than two days he was out, an escaped prisoner. However, his newfound freedom didn’t last as he soon found himself yet again on the receiving end of Marshall Earp’s gun sights and Wyatt had lost his patience with the man. On Wednesday, January 10th Deputy Sheriff Hunter escorted Yeats to the County Jail in Tombstone. The same day Tombstone Marshall Virgil Earp along with his brothers and Deputy Marshall’s Morgan and Warren rounded up suspected members of the Cowboy Gang on suspicion of robbing the Bisbee/Tombstone Wells Fargo Stage. Nine arrests were made on that day and the next and by Thursday nightfall the County Jail was full. But while Sheriff Behan was away having supper the Cowboy Gang retaliated, blowing up the rear wall of the jail with dynamite. Six prisoners escaped including Yeats. Interestingly enough four of the prisoners, Johnny Ringo and three of the Clanton Clan remained behind when they could have escaped, again proclaiming their innocence. Yeats showed up the following day in Promise City in the company of Arthur ‘Deadeye’ Douglas and the Koonz Brothers Gang who are now apparently the New Douglas Gang. The Koonz Brothers, Brice and Elmer, and their associates Pinto Joe Weems, Shotgun Sally Fox and Mongo Bailey have been suspected of rustling cattle throughout the county for the last year but were never convicted of any crime. (Continued on page two) Robbery at Condon’s Bank (continued from page one) The robbery began with Deadeye Douglas and Elmer Koonz entering the bank and meeting with Frank Condon under the guise of being new customers. Weems, Fox and Yeat’s wife Pamela then entered, also pretending to be customers. Bailey and Yeats then busted through the front door armed for bear. Both of the Condon’s Bank guards, Chester Martin and Jake Cooke, attempted to defend the bank and were both shot for their efforts although not seriously. It should be noted that unlike other robbery gangs the previous Douglas Gang always made an effort to avoid killing. Weems was seriously shot by the guards and left behind when the other outlaws fled with the money. Brice Koonz was waiting for the Gang with their horses but by then Marshall Earp had arrived. He shot Yeats who fell from his horse and into a trough of water, spilling it into the street. Pamela dismounted and ran to her husband. Douglas, Bailey and the Koonz brothers rode off to the southwest and Wyatt pursued on foot, managing to wound Brice Koonz before they rode into the hills. When asked about posting a reward Frank and Morgan Condon refused, stating that almost no money was taken. The New Douglas Gang was pressed for time and apparently took only “dummy” bags filled with confederate money, leaving behind the genuine currency. Morgan Condon was quoted to say, “The only real cash taken was around a hundred or so dollars from the teller’s windows. We’re not going to post a reward for more than we lost.” Deputy Sheriff Hunter has assembled a posse to hunt for the robbers. Judge Isby had been scheduled to depart Promise City on Saturday but has agreed to stay until Monday so that Pamela Yeats can be tried for her participation in the robbery. To further add insult to injury, the site of her trial on Monday morning will be her former Trail Dust Saloon, which the Arizona Territory legally confiscated from her following Dudley Yeat’s jailbreak in lieu of the fine that he had been given. [/I] Kate took a few moments to read over the article. It was all fairly factual, although it left out a good deal. Which was not to say that it they weren't things she was glad were left out. "And good reporting too." Kate then flipped through the rest of the paper, hoping Chumbley leave soon. "You should hurry, get your papers sold before Baxter hits the streets. We'll be able to hear him grinding his teeth from here." Ruby doesn't bother with the paper as her eyes narrow. She is still hashing over Kate’s comments about the Lone Star. "What do you mean he yelled at you and tried to hit Louise??" she says slowly. Chumbley makes his way through the Cantina and sells six more papers. Then he puts on his poncho and hurries off. Jeff Mills declares "I'm stuffed. I think I'll head over to my hotel and take a nap before work tonight." He gets up and leaves as well after poking his head into the kitchen and thanking Dorita and Maggie for the meal. Kate waited until Chumbley was gone to answer Ruby’s question. She says, "Exactly that. Maggie had invited Mr. Miller and Mr. Wyman to the Lone Star. Some miners who had already had a little too much were offended by a non-human in the saloon. They tried to ignore miners, but they obviously wanted a fight, so they went over and started on. Mr. Whipple came over to break it up. He said it was my fault for not throwing out Mr. Miller and Mr. Wyman. They had explained who they were, and Louise pointed out that he had just offended some very important men. That's when he balled up his fists and went after her. Jeff and Job grabbed him right away. Jeff was wonderful, telling Mr. Whipple that he worked for Maggie, not him. He tried to fire Jeff, if you can believe it.” Chester pipes up, "Yeah, Maggie and Dorita cooked up a big meal for him as a reward. Anyway, it sounds like you know some of those guys who robbed the bank yesterday." Kate says, “Before you go looking for him Ruby, we have an idea that will definitely make him very unhappy. But we really need to talk to Maggie in the next few minutes to make it work." "Ok, I'm listening..." Ruby says. Wait here just a few minutes, I'll get Maggie." Kate looked around the Cantina. It was pretty quiet. The rain was keeping most people indoors, and as was their habit, her friends had taken a table where it was unlikely they'd be overheard. She went into the kitchen and came out with Maggie. Once they were all sitting together, Kate began to explain Mr. Gonzales' suggestion. That there was a position open in the city of Los Angeles, and that it would fit her perfectly. "Your $2000 from the sale of the Lone Star would buy you half the restaurant, and the women who would be working there will need someone like you to help them. They are women like me, but not as lucky. They have lost everything somehow, and need help starting again. The hotel will give them a place to live, and your restaurant a place to work. But Mr. Gonzales suspects, and I agree that your father would not approve of this. So he suggests we get a lawyer and sign over your half of the Lone Star this afternoon. Tomorrow morning you find a reason to miss church, pack your things, and get on the stage to Tombstone. There you'd take a train to Tucson where Mr. Gonzales would meet you and accompany you on the rest of your trip. I know that staying with the Lone Star is what you have wanted, but this is an opportunity for you to do what you told me you wanted to. Make an oasis for people who need it, and run a place where all races are welcome. What do you think?" Maggie is hesitant. "Father won't let me stay, and I don't want to go back to Denver. But California? I don't know anything about there. How could I manage a large restaurant by myself?" Kate answers, "You won't be alone. There will be a woman named Consuela Hernandez who will be running the hotel. She can help you. And there will be a few months of building and renovations first. You won't be jumping in feet first and neck deep. The trust set up for the women will own the other half, and I'm sure you'll have their support. It's a far better option than Denver, Maggie. I think you could be happy there." Maggie asks several more questions and Kate spends the next fifteen minutes describing the building and Toberman's vision for the place. Maggie is finally convinced and agrees, although she is now reluctant about the idea of just sneaking away. Kate says, "We can argue about that later, Maggie. For right now, let's get the sale completed.” While Katherine is working hard to convince Maggie about the restaurant, Jake answers Nanuet's question. "Weems is the guy I shot at the bank. I guess that put me over the edge when I heard him called Pinto. Anyway, he's still at the docs. We are hoping he'll live long enough for us to find out who put him up to hiring the outlaws that day on our mine trip. Oh, and we can talk more about Deadeye later, but I'm not really interested in going after him." Kate asks, “Ruby, Jake, are you ready? You still want to do this? We'll need Mr. Berg if you are. And the money, of course." Jake looks at Ruby and back to Katherine and Maggie. "Ready is never a problem with me." He laughs. "Yes," he says looking at Ruby, "we'll buy your half of the Lone Star for $2,000. We'll have to be creative on the finances, the bank is closed. I'll have to go see Condon and see what we can do." Ruby leans over to Jake and whispers, "Um, I tried to get my money out of the bank yesterday and Condon said no money until Monday..." Kate says, "Why don't you and Ruby go do that now? And perhaps Mr. Martin might care to join you? That's a lot of money to walk around with. I have a feeling Mr. Condon will be willing to help you. After yesterday he was talking about paying you the whole weeks salary." Jake pretends to wipe a tear from his eye, "I'm all choked up, I... I... don't know what I could possibly do with that extra four and half dollars...." "Alright Jake," Kate laughed. "To a man who was just robbed four dollars and fifty cents is a big deal. Let's get a move on. I have to be ready to ride out to the ranch in a little more than an hour." Kate says, "Maggie, why don't you and I go upstairs and talk in private?" Ruby isn't listening to the conversation, lost in her thoughts. Suddenly she speaks up, "Yes let's go find the Condons..." "OK, let's go find Condon. Chester you'll come too?" Jake asks the soldier. "Nanuet, your going to go find Sanoma and see if you can get some answers... to whatever in Hades you are carrying around. And Katherine we'll meet you two over at Berg's?" Chester, Ruby and Jake make their way up to the Condon brothers' home at the corner of Allen and Sierra Streets. The rain is keeping people indoors so they do not see anybody for the short trip. The roads are also now an impassable mess of mud, nearly as bad as what the outlaws ran into from the prior day's magic spell. They reach the two-story clapboard house. They knock. It takes a while until Morgan arrives and peers out a peephole. He then opens the door and welcomes the trio in. They are shown into a parlor room and Frank soon joins them, offering the trio a drink from a well stocked bar. "Thank you, Mr. Condon. I'll have a beer, please. How are you feeling?" Frank replies, "Sorry, no kegs in here Mr. Martin. Could I get you something out of a bottle?" Chet answers, "A whiskey will be fine, then." "Oh I'll take a whiskey too," Ruby chimes in quickly. Jake says, "Thanks kindly gentlemen. Truth is, Miss West and myself need a favor. There is a business deal brewing and I need $2,000 now. I can't wait until Monday. Is there some way you can help us, we have enough money in accounts to cover it." Frank Condon says "Mr. Cooke, while I appreciate what you did yesterday there is no way that we are going to sponsor you in a high-stakes poker game. And I don't believe that you have nearly that much money in your accounts at our bank." Jake says, "Begging your pardon, but I have $1,800 and Miss West has another $400. And it's not for a poker game. We are buying into a well established business, but need to keep it quite private until tomorrow noon." "What well established business?" Morgan states. "And why keep it quiet?" asks Frank. Ruby opens her mouth to respond but remains quiet when she sees Jake's face. Jake says, "I'm trying to honor the wishes of the seller. If I tell you I will have to break confidence with them." Jake takes a sip of the whiskey. "Very nice he says. I understand you are in the business of managing money and risks. Well this is NO risk to you. I have the money to cover in the bank. And if you wish to feel completely confident, you can accompany us to Mitchel Bergs and give him the money to hold." Jake walks around the room. "You know I can keep a secret, I didn't divulge yours. I am a man of my word. And if you really don't trust me, I can provide collateral." Frank says "Actually you already said the magic word Mr. Cooke, namely Berg. Morgan, go get $ 2,000 out of the safe." Morgan Condon heads upstairs and returns a few minutes later with a cloth bag that he then slips into the pocket of his coat. Frank walks over and looks out the back window towards Mitchell Berg's office next door and says "Looks like he's home. Let's go." Ruby jumps up and grabs Jake's hand with a big smile on her face. Pulling him up, "Come on, let's go..." She looks to Chester," You too, Chet, hurry up!" Chester says, "Alright, alright. Let me just check my gun, please. One bank robbery is enough for me." Back at the El Parador, Kate took Maggie upstairs to her room and closed the door behind them. She sat down on the bed and tucked her legs underneath her. "I didn't want to talk about your father too much in front of the others. Private life is private after all. To be honest Maggie, I think your father would physically try to stop you from leaving. Am I wrong?" Maggie says, "He just doesn't believe that any of the Lone Star's success is mine. He thinks Tom did it all. Kate, he's never given me any credit and at this point I don't really expect him too. I appreciate all that you and Dorita's family have done for me and hope that some day I can repay such kindness. Kate answers, "Then what is it about leaving without telling him that bothers you? Maggie, I..." Kate took a deep breath. "I saw his temper last night. He would have actually struck Sonoma. To be honest, we're afraid for your safety if he knows what's going on." Maggie starts to cry "You're right, and what Dorita just told me doesn't make me feel any better. Kate, he's counting on getting the full amount. If I leave with half of it he will look at it as me stealing Tom's money." Kate answers, "Legally that is your money and there is nothing he can do about it. He could file legal papers and he would be laughed out of court. He can come looking for you, but Mr. Gonzales will make sure he never finds anything past Tucson." She reached out and took Maggie's hand. "It must be frightening to think of leaving your family and breaking off your ties. I know how hard being alone is. Would you tell me what Dorita told you?" "She said that if Father had struck Sanoma he wouldn't still be alive right now. She said that the men here at the El Parador are very protective of her and would not stand for any man mistreating their little girl. Kate, I invited Mr. Wyman there last night. I am ashamed over what happened. What was I thinking? And if Father had been killed because of me...." Maggie begins to cry. Katherine put her arms around Maggie and let her cry for a little while. "You've spent the last few days seeing a different world than the one you've been living in before. You hoped you could bring some of that into the life you know. There was nothing wrong with that. If you mean that you knew how your father would react, then yes, you made a miscalculation. But it wouldn't have been your fault if something happened to him. He's an adult and chooses his own actions. If he can't control his own temper, then someday it will catch up with him without any help from you. Listen to me, now. I know you don't want to sneak off, but for your own safety, I think it's the best thing to do. It feels dishonest, I know, but you're an adult and you can come as go as you like. You can always let your family know where you are later if that's what you want. We need to get over to Mr. Berg's office in a few minutes. What do you think?" Maggie nods and says "Of course. You're right. Oh Kate, you've been such a good friend." "I do what I can," Kate smiled. "Friendship goes two ways Maggie. I'm going to miss you." The two women gathered up their things and went back downstairs. Maggie got her jacket and an umbrella and they walked over to Mitchell Berg's office. [/QUOTE]
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