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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2544354" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 136 ,“Lunch and Unpleasant Truths”, Sunday, January 15th, 1882, Jake finishes cleaning and oiling his and Ruby's weapons while they are talking about the Lone Star and everything else imaginable. "You hungry? Do you have anything clean to wear?" While he's talking Jake puts on the usual before going over to pickup the badge. He holds it in his hand for what seems like a long time before he realizes that Ruby is watching him. "Heh." is all he says and pins it to his shirt."I'm starving!" Ruby hops out of bed and adjusts Jake's badge. "No, I told you I don't have anything clean. I'll go find out if Dorita had a chance to clean my clothes yet." Ruby gets to the door, opens it and starts walking out. "What?" she says in response to Jake's expression. She shrugs and goes downstairs to find Dorita.  After Ruby saunters out of his room only wearing one of Jake's shirts Silver Jake Cook grabs the bottle of bourbon off the night stand and takes a swig. With an audible "Ahhh" he puts it back, grabs his hat off the floor, and heads down to breakfast. As he's walking down the hall he says out loud, "I'm gonna have to get that woman a maid servant too."Ruby gets downstairs and sees her walking with a tray. She walks over to her. "Morning," she says with a smile. "Any chance you got to those clothes?"  Dorita says "Get to clothes! You think I have all time in world? I cook, clean and fix El Parador! And I cook at Lone Star! And I wait on most of 100 dwarves! And I watch after men here, they be lost without me! And I keep eye on Indian who after Sanoma! And I train Maggie to run Mexican kitchen! And you think I have time to do Laundry too!"She replies, "I only know that you are the best at what you do and just thought it was possible that you may have gotten to it is all. I'm sorry." Ruby takes her dressed only in a shirt self over to a table and takes a seat, waiting for Jake to come down to eat breakfast.Dorita goes into the kitchen and comes out a second later carrying a basket with Ruby's laundry, all washed and folded. She sets it down on the table and says "You right, I am best at what I do." And with a smile the Mexican woman then turns to head back to the kitchen. Ruby jumps up and follows her into the kitchen, giving her a big hug and kiss before returning to the table. Manuel Gonzales comes over and sits down next to Ruby. He smiles and says "She was just kidding you. It's just her way of telling you that she is no longer terrified of my 'golden eagle'." "I don't know why would be scared of me. I would never hurt her. And after all, your nickname is just words." Ruby smiles at him but it's only half hearted. "I think you stayed out at the ranch last night. What did you think?" He replies "It was fine, I like the outdoors and the smell of animals. It reminds me of Texas. Sanoma and I just got back a few minutes ago.""Any grand plans for today? After I eat and get dressed Jake and I are going to buy the rest of the Lone Star." She stops to make sure the shirt is covering her in front of Mr. Gonzales. Looking up at him ,"Oh I think it's time for some more lessons. I've been having some thoughts about it lately." He says "I'd be happy to spend some time with you today. I don't have any real plans until either tomorrow or Tuesday when I head over to Tucson to meet up with Maggie.  If you'd like me to have 'Mr. Austin' be in or near the Lone Star prior to your announcement, just in case he might be needed.""Today, well, today isn't so good. After we do the Lone Star stuff I have to talk to Kate about something important. Actually," she looks around the room, "Kate might be needing you after I talk to her. Have you heard any rumors about her husband, Tom?"  Jake comes down the stairs to see Ruby sitting at a table with Senor Gonzalez and a basket full of laundry. He scratches his beard as he approaches the table, "Buenes diaz, Senor Gonzalez. You haven't taken up laun... uh, nevermind." He looks up and down at Ruby sitting there in his shirt which exposes most of her shapely legs a long moment and says, "I'm not sure if I wish I was taller or shorter." and then takes a seat. "Will you be joining us for breakfast Senor?"  She turns to Jake, "What do you think, should Mr. Austin come with us today?" Jake has a puzzled look on his face as he turns from Ruby to Senor Gonzalez. "Mr. Austin?" "I think I can find him upstairs" Gonzales replies with a smile on his face.Ruby leans in very close to Jake, giving him a good look down his own shirt. "I'll explain about Mr. Austin later, let's just say it might be helpful to have him around." Ruby turns back to Mr. Gonzales. "So you didn't answer my question, about Tom Kale... " Gonzales replies "I am not one for rumors. Facts are enough to deal with. I will go check on Mr. Austin." "Uh, Ok." Jake says slightly distracted. "Any friend of yours is welcome help. I think." Jake takes off his hat, scratches his head, and waves to Dorita. "Might as well be confused on a full stomach. Can we get some breakfast Senora, por favor?" "It's not the rumors I'm worried about," she says quietly as he walks away. She turns to Jake, leans near him again and whispers. "Mr. Gonzales can make himself look like someone else. He came the other night to hear me sing and see Kate play and you didn't even know he was there. It might be helpful for him to be there if we think the Whipples might give us trouble." Ruby thinks for a moment. "Kinda like you were saying about your friend Red being Van Horne."  Ruby looks at Jake confused. "Since when can you speak Spanish?"Jake has a quick look of concern on his face but it quickly disappears. He leans in close to Ruby to say, "I don't know who he is hiding from, so don't tell anyone, please. I really don't know who else I can trust."  He leans back in his chair before continuing. "The whole gang here" he waves his arm around, "at the El Parador has been teaching me. Mostly I am annoying the heck out of them. But I can understand quite a bit, and speak some. I'm getting better all the time.""I didn't tell anyone and I won't tell anyone, I told you that. You can trust me... " Jake was just too close to resist the temptation so Ruby finishes the distance and gives him a long kiss. "I promise you can trust me." She smiles, "And as for the Spanish, I like it. Come up with something to say to me, even if I don't know what it means, something that sounds nice."A human man comes downstairs who Ruby recognizes as Mr. Austin. Jake takes a good look at him. The man looks to be between sixty and seventy years of age, with long white beard, bushy sideburns, busy eyebrows and baldhead. He has a pleasant smile on his face. He is dressed in a blue cotton shirt, tan wool pants, a wide belt and cowboy boots. He has a straw campaign-style hat on his head. A pair of wire-framed eyeglasses magnify his robins-egg blue eyes. He has a sheathed dagger on his belt but no other weapons.  One look into his eyes and Jake immediately knows who he really is. Kate is back in her room upstairs.  She pulls out a burgundy dress from her trunk and hung it from the closet door. It was cut as a dinner dress, not as formal as the one she had worn to lunch yesterday, but still a notch above her everyday clothes. Katherine had seen the inside of the Long Branch, and while she was sure she'd be a bit overdressed, the idea was to attract players. And after yesterday she'd found she missed dressing up now and then.  She brushed her hair out loose to give it a chance to dry and went back downstairs. Jake and Ruby were sitting with a familiar figure at one of the tables.  "Aren't you cold, Ruby?" she asked as she sat down.  "Mr. Austin, to what do we owe the pleasure of seeing you today?"Ruby asks, "So, how'd it go with Maggie?"  Kate replies, "Very well. She's on her way without a hitch. Tom and William are going to be very upset though. She left most of the cash in the cashbox, but she took $100 for expenses. But those men think she doesn't have a right to any of it. The gamblers in town will be breathing a sigh of relief, though. Cornelius Van Horne was on the stage. Poor Maggie, Chumbley was there too.""Van Horne left huh? Strange..." Ruby quickly changes the subject. "Well, I'm glad she is off safely. I should have said goodbye I guess. In case you haven't guessed I'm not very good at them. Anyway, did she tell Tom that she sold her half to us?" Then to herself, "No, I guess that would have given her away, stupid question. Well, I guess we have to tell them then?" Jake glances surreptitiously at Ruby. "Crap. Should have figured that runt would be on the stage this morning." But that was not what he was thinking. Jake asks, "How will the Whipple men find out Maggie has fled?"  Kate answers, "She left them a note on her bed. She said she'd sold her half, but not to who. All she told them was that she'd left the territory to pursue a business opportunity, but not where. They should have a lot of trouble finding her, if they bother to look. She told them she wasn't feeling well, so if they bother to check on her when they get back from services, they should know about noon."Ruby furrowed her brow. "Why didn't she tell them who she sold it to?"  Kate answers, "I'm not sure why. I almost got the feeling she wanted everything to come at them as out of the blue as possible." "Well, I guess it shouldn't be too bad, Tom knows we are buying the place." Ruby puts her hand on Jake's. "So, what do you want to do?""When do you think they'll find the note?" Jake says to Katherine, and then idly with a grin "I wonder what they prayed for in church."  Kate answers, "Whatever they prayed for, I don't think they're getting it. If they bother to check on her at all, they'll find it around noon when they get back. Otherwise, they should find it when she doesn't come down to run the saloon for the night."Jake turns back to Ruby, "Let's just relax here for a few hours then, let's see if they find the note. No sense in us having to go out in the rain, perhaps it will continue to clear. We can enjoy our friends company. We can enjoy Dorita's fine food." Jake's eyes become unfocused for a second and then back to that razor sharp look. "I think I'd like to have lunch with Mr. Booth today." "Why Mr. Booth?" Ruby asks Jake. She pulls up her legs onto the chair and continues to eat.  He says, "Because he is a good listener. I'm hoping he'd share what he knows." Jake gets up to follow Ruby. "Katherine, I'll be back down in a little while."More patrons arrive, most noticing Ruby’s peculiar attire. "Oh it's getting busy, I'd better get dressed." Ruby stands up and grabs her laundry basket with a smile. "Jake, can you walk me up? Oh Kate, I, um, need to talk to you about something... after I get dressed..." "Of course Ruby. Just let me know when you need me. I'll probably go back up to my own room soon."Ruby brings Jake back to her room. As she is getting dressed she talks. With a sigh, "I didn't know Kate had plans tonight. I have to tell her now though, about Tom. What do you think? You won't need me for a while right?" Ruby can tell Jake isn't paying 100% attention to her talking, so she grabs his face and makes him look her in the eyes, "You don't need me now do you?"  "Buenas dias, Senorita. Como esta? Bien, muy bien. Tu es hermosa." Jake smiles smugly. "It means good morning, miss. How are you. Good, very good. You are beautiful." His smile gets crooked. "At least I think it does." He puts his hands over her hands. "There is a fine line between need and desire don't you think?" He kisses her hands and says, "We can take this up later, technically I don't need you now."Another hour or so passes. Estaban arrives and starts to play some Spanish guitar music for the Sunday brunch crowd.   Some of the dwarves who had spent the night begin to stagger downstairs, most wanting coffee but a few wanting whiskey. Sanoma joins Estaban on the stage playing and singing quietly enough to cause background music but not bother dwarfs with hangovers Conrad Booth arrives at around 11:30. His face lights up when he sees Kate and he asks her "Are you still planning to join me this evening?" "Of course, I always keep my word," she laughed. "Especially when keeping my word promises to be so pleasant." Booth heads over towards his usual table and Dorita brings him out a plate of food. Pedro comes over with a drink for Kate then goes over and takes Booth's drink order. She took a sip of her drink. "So, what time shall I expect you? You are going to escort me this evening, aren't you?" He replies "It would be my honor. I've spoken to both Kate Higgins and Dooley Wilson and they are both fine with letting you have a crack at their piano. So after I bring you there I'd suggest that you start off with something very impressive and then you can join me at my table." "I hadn't really expected to play tonight. I'll be glad to, I enjoy it, but I'm not sure of the need to impress them. Now, how should I dress this evening? I have a dinner dress from Boston that I had planned to wear, but from what I've seen here, even that will be probably the fanciest dress in town."He replies, "The fanciest dress it town would be wonderful. I plan to dress in my best suit. I'm hoping that having a classy lady at my table will help to improve the class of patrons at my game. I also want to show some of the...ladies, that work the Long Branch that there are other types of beauty."  Kate asks, "You have a problem with the ladies at the Long Branch?"  He states, "I find their antics distracting while I am trying to run a card game."Kate says, "You're not the first gambler I've heard say that. I'm not sure my appearance there will change anything, so I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you. They have a very different profession than I do, and I doubt my ways would benefit them much."Upstairs, Jake has his smug smile back. "I should go back downstairs soon to talk to Booth." And I should go talk to Kate. But Jake, you have a way of distracting me. All that Spanish talk is very sexy..." Ruby sits on his lap, half dressed and kisses him. A bit of time goes by before she stops. "Ok, ok, I'm going," as she slowly pulls herself away and gets off his lap. "Yes there is a fine line between need and desire, we will go over that later, I promise." Ruby gives him a mischievous grin and continues to get dressed. "But listen, this is serious. I don't know how Kate will take this news. So please keep an eye out for her, ok? Don't let her go running off if you can help it. And when you need me, come to her room and get me." Ruby is finished getting dressed and can stall no longer. She walks back downstairs with Jake and finds that Kate is sitting with Conrad having lunch.Katherine saw Jake and Ruby coming back down the stairs a few moments later. "Here's Jake now. I think he wanted to talk to you, and Ruby wanted to talk to me about something. I'll let him keep you company for a while and see you this evening, around seven o'clock?"Jake greets Conrad Booth warmly, offering his hand before sitting down. "How are you today Conrad?" Booth replies, "Just fine Mr. Cook, or should I say Deputy Cooke based upon that badge you are wearing?" "Heh, Jake please, if you don't mind me calling you by your first name. I notice you are an excellent observer, and seem to be keenly aware of many things here in town. I was wondering if you would care to share some of that with me? I'm buying." Jake smiles openly and gestures for another round. Booth answers, "Not sure what you're talking about sir. If it is in reference to last night's explosion, I was engaged in a card game at the Long Branch at the time so did not see anything. But I certainly heard it." Jake says, "No I wasn't talking about anything in particular or implying anything. Just wondering if I could benefit from your knowledge. If I was in need of buying or selling jewelry, where would one get a good deal? Either here in town, or in Tombstone or even Tucson."   Booth thinks for a minute then says, "Tucson would be your best bet. San Francisco would be even better. Not much call for jewelry among miners and prospectors."  Jake says, "It can't be much of a secret anymore, no matter what Tom Whipple believes, but if you aren't already aware Miss West and I are buying into the Lone Star. We are going to be needing a manager with some saloon useful skills. Do you have any recommendations?" Jake adds with a nod, "And as a respected professional, any thoughts on improving the place?"  Booth replies, "I hadn't heard that but I'm not altogether surprised. The best manager in town would be Dorita, but I think she's already got a place to run right here and I wouldn't want to go anywhere else for my meals each day. I believe that Mr. Hoover has already made arrangements with Mr. Whipple to temporarily operate out of the Lone Star what since his liquor distribution burned down. His operation was also a saloon so I'm sure either he or his partner Mr. Rote would be happy to help you out, at least until they rebuild."  "I'm curious, what are people saying about Silver Jake Cook and the others." Jake takes a sip of whiskey. "What else is interesting in town." Booth states, "Only what they read in the papers. As for what else is interesting, Buffalo Bill Cody arrived in town last night. Make a big fuss at the Long Branch. Loved making a big spectacle of himself. I think he got offended by the dynamite explosion stealing the attention away from him." Jake asks, "I don't know how you feel about Evan Adair, but he seems to have decided he doesn't like us." Jake makes a frown and rubs his beard. "That dislike has taken a rather dangerous turn. I'm concerned about the welfare of the women. What can you tell me about him that might prove useful to me in putting a stop to his nonsense." He looks around to make sure no one is listening "I won't be shy here, any dirt will do. How he got the Palace, who are his enemies, and who does he count as allies? Whatever you can tell me." Booth answers, "He got the Palace in a high stakes card game. It was before I came to town so I can't give you much for details. I don't particularly like him and have had no interest in playing there, not that he'd even take me after the false rumor that the Comique spread about me. As for enemies, I'd say every competitor of his in town falls into that category. Allies, besides Baxter and Fisk, I'd say he doesn't have many." "Conrad, I appreciate your help. You are a generous man." Jake looks seriously at him. "I won't beat around the bush. I see how you look at Mrs. Kale. I just want you to know she has friends. Those friends will think very highly of someone who treats her right. On the other hand if someone where to take advantage of her, well..." Jake’s eyes take on that steely look. "... we'd rip their heart out. Now, my gut tells me you have her interests at heart and I hope you aren't offended by my bluntness. That woman certainly deserves a turn at some happiness with all she's been through." And going to go through thinks Jake. Booth replies, "Mr. Cook, I won't lie to you and say that I'm not attracted to the woman. But she is in mourning and I fully intend to respect that. For the time being all I am seeking to be to her is a friend and occasional companion. If she decides at some time in the future that she would like more of a relationship than that it will be her decision. I appreciate that you are looking out for your friend, but you also need to allow her to live her own life." "I'm not trying to influence her decisions, she's a grown woman and probably wiser than me. I'm not trying to scare you off, she's a fine lady and makes a fine friend." Jake raises his glass to Booth. "Tener suerte, Salud!"* <<Jake's broken Spanish for 'to be lucky, cheers!'>>Kate had stayed at the table a few minutes.   Jake was still talking with Mr. Booth when Kate excused herself and went up to her room. Ruby walks over to the bar. “Dorita, I need two bottles of whiskey please.” Ruby sees the look on her face and sighs. “Believe me, I wish I didn’t need them.” Dorita doesn’t look like she is going to give them to Ruby so she leans way over the bar and grabs the two bottles herself. Ruby takes a very deep breath and heads up the stairs to Kate’s room. She knocks on the door. “Kate, are you here?” At that moment Ruby almost hoped she wasn’t that she had run out to do some errand. "Come in, Ruby dear," Kate calls out from inside the room. As Ruby comes in she is brushing down a burgundy dress hanging from the closet door. With its lower neckline and sleeves cut to expose the shoulders, it's obvious this dress is meant for something other than everyday. Kate is wrapped in a soft blue robe, and her hair is still hanging loose and slightly damp from her bath earlier that day. She is humming a bit under her breath. "You wouldn't believe how much dust gets inside my trunk," she said before she turned around and saw Ruby standing with two bottles of whiskey. "Are we celebrating something?" she asked. Ruby had made her way over to Kate’s dresser where she kept her guns. She glances at Kate, who is very busy with the dress. Ruby silently slides the drawer open a crack and slips both guns out and into her pocket. She closes the drawer with Kate none the wiser. “I wish we were Kate, more than anything. You are going to think this is strange but you have to have a drink with me now without asking questions.” Ruby moves into Kate’s room and goes to her table. She opens one bottle and pours two generous glasses. “You will know why I am asking in a bit. Please just do this for me.” Kate has noticed a look on Ruby’s face she has never seen before. Absolute dread. Ruby reaches out and hands the drink to Kate. “Drink. You’ll thank me later.” Ruby knows it’s true but she won’t be receiving any thanks after this conversation was over. "I really shouldn't," Kate began. She looked at Ruby's face and drank about half the glass without protestation. "What's wrong, Ruby? Are you alright?"  “No, Kate I’m not alright but it’s not me you should be thinking of. Please sit.” Ruby guides Kate over to her bed and sits her down. Ruby takes a seat next to her and takes her hands. With a big breath in Ruby starts, “It’s about Tom…” Katherine nodded. "I meant to ask you about this. Wyatt Earp said you had been asking questions about how Tom died.”  Ruby answers, “Yes, I have been asking questions. You know I made a couple of trips to Tombstone. I wasn’t going to buy bourbon. I was going to see if any of the rumors were true. Kate there is no easy or nice way to say this, so I’m just going to say it. Tom did not die from an illness.” Ruby waits to see how Katherine will react before continuing. She closes her eyes for a moment. "Of course he did. The marshal said you were looking into some rumors that had been going around Tombstone. But his brother did an investigation, and determined there was no foul play." She took a deep breath, looking down at her hands in Ruby's. "I knew I shouldn't have let him come out here alone. But he was so determined, so tired of sitting around like an invalid. He wanted to get started again. But it was too soon. He worked himself too hard. Maybe if I'd been here I could have taken better care of him. Mr. Tucker was a good friend to him. He told me himself how Tom fell ill. Who told you otherwise?" “Kate you have to understand something. I have no reason to lie to you about this. I didn’t even want to tell you, but that would have been a lie too.” Ruby puts one hand on Kate’s face and turns her head towards hers to look her in the eye. “Tom was murdered.  Many people covered it up, Colby Tucker included. He confirmed to me what I am pretty sure is true, although I can’t be 100% positive. Tom was found with a knife in his back.” Ruby shut her eyes, not wanting to see the reaction on Kate’s face but knows she needs to be there for her friend so she opens them again and waits for the news to sink in. Kate is quiet for a long moment as her eyes move away from Ruby's face to stare off into space. Her voice sounds hollow as she speaks. "That can't be right, Ruby. I don't know why anyone would tell you such a monstrous lie. Why would the Earp's lie to me?" As Kate sits silent for a moment Ruby can see tears gathering in her eyes. "It didn't seem right," she says in a voice barely more than a whisper. "It wasn't the kind of illness that kills in days. But why...." Her eyes come back to Ruby's. "Who told you? How do you know you can believe them?" ”Of course the Earps are going to protect themselves and not tell the truth about what happened.” Ruby grasped her friend’s hand again tightly and sighed. “Try to remember that all Tom wanted was to see you again, Kate. He was very happy you were coming. And I guess he drank a little too much, made some people mad. Can you think of anyone who has been acting strange around you Kate? I know you can.” Images flashed before Kate's eyes. An odd refusal to let her see a friend, pools of coffee spilled over a desktop, the startled eyes of a man who had nearly died but pleadingly apologized before sinking into unconsciousness. "How did they find him?" Kate asked in a deceptively calm voice. “I told you already,” Ruby said quietly, “They found him with a knife in his back in an alley. Morgan Earp’s knife to be exact. The Earp’s covered it all up. No one wants to talk about it, they are all afraid of the Earps. It’s part of what Jake and I were fighting about on Thursday, you know that big fight we had? Jake’s afraid if they find out I’ve been getting information about this they’ll come after me, maybe try to kill me too. He’s probably right.” Ruby glanced over to Kate. Kate was obviously in shock, the realization of what Ruby was telling her barely setting in. “Kate I’m going to tell you what I know. But before I do you have to promise me you won’t go see Morgan Earp. PROMISE ME.” Kate blurted out something under her breath. It sounded like a good enough promise to Ruby. Ruby pours them both another round of drinks. She tells Kate everything she knows about the card game that ended with Johnny Ringo and Morgan Earp getting mad, Tucker finding Tom, the newspaper men hiding it and the decision to not “hurt” Kate with the truth. All the while she is pouring drinks for her and Kate and the first bottle is almost gone by the time she is done with her story. “Kate both Jake and I thought you had a right to know what happened. I am SO sorry to have to tell you this and that any of it happened at all.” Kate wandered over to the window, glass in hand. "He must have been so cold," she said rubbing her arm. "Bleeding to death in a dark alley." It was hard to breathe. The glass shattered, shards mixing with whiskey and blood in her hand. Katherine stared numbly as tears fell into the mess on the floor. As Kate walked to the window Ruby quickly stuffed Kate’s guns in between the mattress and bed frame. She would never find them there. She looks up right as Kate’s glass breaks in her hand. “Oh Kate,” Ruby said while jumping off the bed and moving to her friend. She steps over the glass and guides Kate back to the bed. Ruby takes a look at her hand and sees it’s not a serious wound but it is still bleeding so Ruby quietly sings a few lines of a song, healing Kate’s hand in the process. She whispers, “I can’t imagine what you are feeling and I wish things could have been different for you and for Tom.” Ruby was feeling pretty lost herself. She didn’t know what to say to make things better or what to do to help Kate. With that Ruby did the only thing she could think of. She pulls Kate to her, wrapping her arms around her in a tight and hopefully comforting hug. Katherine clung to Ruby, her breath coming in sharp gasps. The wetness of tears quickly soaked through Ruby's dress as Kate wrapped her arms around her friend. Kate's tears went on for longer than Ruby could have imagined. All Ruby could do was sit there and let Kate cry it out. Ruby guessed she would be crying all day too, hell, she felt like crying herself, although that wasn’t something that she let herself do. When she got a chance she reached for the bottle of whiskey and took some big gulps. She passed it to Kate, who took a few small sips in between sobs, but really wasn’t interested in drowning her sorrows. After a while her arms started to hurt so rather than let go she lay back on the bed, taking Kate with her. Kate continued to cry and Ruby just lay there quietly, stroking Kate’s hair, listening to her cry. This was one of the hardest things Ruby had ever done.  It was well into the afternoon by the time Kate had exhausted herself and fallen asleep in Ruby's arms and eventually Ruby’s eyes got heavy and shut and she fell fast asleep too.</blockquote>

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