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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2574608" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 138 ,“Change in Ownership”, Sunday, January 15th, 1882:Booth takes Kate's arm and escorts her outside. When they both see the condition of the street he suggests that the stick close to the boardwalk. He lets go of her arm and says "Perhaps you'd best lift up the bottom of your dress a little otherwise it will get soaked and make you uncomfortable all evening." "I'm going to have to lift it up quite a bit, I think." Katherine pulled up the hem of her dress to give it a few inches clearance over the water. Thankfully she wasn't exposing much more than the tops of her shoes. "Let's go."Katherine and Conrad arrive at the front door of the Long Branch Saloon. It appears to be a quiet evening, with around fifteen people inside including the bartender and two saloon girls. Two men are seated at one of the card tables that Booth gestures to and take's her arm again to escort her to it. Kate continued to hold her skirt up for a few steps until they got over the puddles near the door. She looked around the room as if she were looking at a painting. Standing outside the scene and observing. "I'm afraid the wet will keep most people away. Did you still want me to play?"Booth replies, "Oh yes, Mrs. Kale. I anticipate that others will soon flock to this site when they see you sitting here." He calls over the bartender Ray Singer and says "Please get Mrs. Kale whatever she would like to drink, and I'll have my usual." "I have to wonder how you can be so sure," Kate said, shaking her head. "You wouldn't happen to have any brandy would you? I'd certainly appreciate it." Kate took the chair that Mr. Booth was holding out for her. "Good evening, gentlemen," she said pleasantly to the others at the table.The two men both greet her back. Booth introduces her them and them as "Richard Hammer, the town's jeweler and watchmaker and Reverend Anson Haggler, a priest of the Greek and Roman Church who led the services in town this morning." "A pleasure." Ray Singer brought over a whiskey for Mr. Booth and a brandy for Kate. She lifted it and sipped. Much, much better than whiskey. "Thank you." The warmth of the alcohol began to spread from her stomach outward, as if trying to wake her up. Kate comments, "I trust you gentlemen are having a good day. Is it always this quiet here on Sundays?" Hammer says "Things were rather lively this morning at Mr. Haggler's worship service. It is too bad that both of you missed it." Booth says "Yes indeed, I will have to make a point to have my housekeeper wake me earlier the next time you are in town. I've heard nothing but good things about your services.""Yes, a great shame to have missed it," Kate said with an absolutely straight face.  She thinks to herself, Tom was up early and dressed for church. They were having their usual Sunday argument, but she would win. She always did. "It's shameful," he said finally. "It's only shameful if you go there and pretend. And I won't do that. Go to church, Tom. I'll be here when you get back." And he sighed and walked out of the room. Kate picked up something off the table. "You forgot this," she said holding out the bloodied knife. "How can you get to the afterlife without it?" Kate shook her head and lifted her hand to her forehead for a moment. "Ah, Reverend, did something particular happen today, or do you always give a lively sermon?" The Reverend replies "My sermons are always exciting, but today's was one of my better ones. Today I spoke of Bellerophon, son of King Glaucus. He was a great hero who rode pegasus to slay the chimerae. The funny thing is, that wasn't what I had prepared for today. I had planned to preach about Zues and Hera, but something about the weather inspired me to change it."She comments, "This weather is unusual isn't it? I haven't been here long, but I'd always understood it to be quite dry here." They had already known that something unnatural was coming. Mr. Gonzales had said so, and Nanuet had recieved a visit from that strange woman, telling him that he was a pivotal part of the direction the world would take. Were he Greek and Roman gods another force that would take a hand? Or maybe she was just paranoid, seeing plots behind every coincidence. But she filed it away to tell her teacher anyway.As the men continued to talk Kate let her mind drift. Chester had gone to the service this morning, he should be able to tell them more about it. The voices kept chattering away. Nods and smiles came from her body, her eyes moving to each face as the lips moved. She pulled her mind back to where she could understand the words. She had a promise to keep, and being miles away wouldn't do it. When there was a lull in the conversation she said, "Well, I hope you gentlemen won't mind a novice at the table. But before we play cards I believe Mr. Booth requested I play the piano. Shall I do that now, or would you rather I played later?" she asked Mr. Booth. Conrad says "By all means, show this establishment you talents."Kate stood and walked over to the piano. For a moment she just let her fingers feel the keys. She released an enormous breath. The keys under her fingers were home. She didn't have to think about what she was playing; the Mozart flowed from her fingers along with her anger, fear, and the feeling of separation that had plagued her since she had woken that afternoon. She had no idea what the others in the room were hearing, and right now she didn't care. She couldn't seem to find where the music stopped and she began.The piece came to it's crescendo, and Katherine sat back, breathing hard. She had never played like that before, but she felt lighter. She had left a big part of her grief in Ruby's arms that afternoon, replaced by anger and shock. Now the shock was wearing off, and the anger had been given an outlet in the music, along with the other passions roiling inside. Kate's fingers finally stilled, and the last notes shimmered away through the air. She didn't hear anything, so she turned to look at Conrad Booth, questioning.  He smiles back at her. Back at the Lone Star, Jake arrives in the room where Tom is and Tom then shuts the door.   Tom says, "Look Cook, truth be told, I don't give a rat's ass about what happens to this place. Burn it to the ground for all I care. Up until a few minutes ago all I cared about was my future with Flossie. Now I'm worried sick about my sister too, and I'm torn. Part of me wants to leave with father but I think I'd better go find and bring Maggie back instead. She's so innocent and the world is not a safe place for her to be out there alone. Father seems to have written her off, but I haven't. You want the place, fine, but if you know where my sister is I want to know!"Jake takes off his hat and rubs the back of his neck. "Look, I don't know where Maggie is. My understanding is that she is fine and will be partnering with some influencial people who don't think she is helpless. As a matter of fact they want her for her demonstrated ability to manage a place. Right now she doesn't want to be found, by you or your father." Jake leans against the wall and thinks about Virginia. "I think she's worried about you. Write her a letter tonight, I'll find a way to get it to her in the next few days. She'll have to decide if she wants to answer it."Tom replies, "Ah, so Katherine does know where to find her."  He then says, "Well Cook, I still have one more problem. I'll be straight with you. My father's deal was to take me and Flossie to Denver with him the price to buy into his business is $ 5,000. When Maggie left she not only sold you half this place but she took some of our savings, not much, but enough to sour father's deal.  With the $ 2,000 from the sale of the place, the $ 1,800 left in the cash box and $ 900 that Flossie saved up that comes to $ 4,700. I'm still $ 300 short. I just spoke to Father and he won't budge. You may have noticed that he has a stubborn streak. So unless I can come up with another $ 300 I won't be going anywhere, so there'd be no point in my selling.""Well you'll be very happy with Ruby and I as partners then." Jake just shakes his head. "What in Hades do you want from me? Your own father is crushing his children like bugs and you accept that? What are you going to tell Flossie? You are going to give up now?" Jake looks him in the eye. "Do you have something else worth more than $300?"Tom looks up and says "Hold on. What exactly did she sell you? The building or the building and it's contents?"  Jake replies with an edge of anger in his voice, "I thought I bought the business, which should include the contents. But we can go look at the contract." Jake gets a nasty look on his face. "Tom you offered to sell us this business for $4,000 and we agreed and have tried to be fair. If you are going to start playing dirty here, you may regret it."Tom replies in a voice showing frustration, "I was counting on having the $ 4000 too! Not having half of that walk away along with some of the hard earned savings. If you're not willing to help me out then I guess I'll have not choice but to go find Maggie and get it back from here. And I'm not asking for the $ 2,000, only a lowsy $ 300 bucks!"Down the hall, Ruby says "So, Mr. Niles.  Do you have much experience with saloons? I understand yours just got burned in the fire last night, such a shame," as she shakes her head and pulls her hair over her shoulder. He answers, "Not that much. I basically just put in the bar and barstools so that people could sample what I had to sell. But I am a good business manager so if you want somebody with good business sense then I'm your guy." She asks, "You are willing to have Jake and I as partners? As Jake said we are looking for someone to do the day to day stuff." Ruby gives him her special smile.    He laughs and replies, He laughs "Oh, I'm willing to take a chance with most anybody. If you ask around you'll find that I'm part owner of over a dozen worthless claims from prospectors who hoped to strike it rich. One of these days an investment of mine will pay off, maybe this will be it.  But in the meanwhile, having control of all liqour flowing into this town will keep me from ever being poor. That nice Mr. Martin arranged for me to store my goods here in the short term so I guess that's my most immediate concern." Ruby stops to think for a moment, then laughs. "That could be to all our advantages, the liquor situation. Yes, Mr. Martin is a friend of ours and a very nice gentleman. Let's see what Jake has to say when he gets back." "What are they doing?" Ruby says outloud with only Mr. Niles to hear. Not that Jake couldn't take care of himself but she was worried about William Whipples's temper. She sits on one of the kegs and shakes her head. "I need another drink."Down the hallway, an exhasperated Jake says, "Tom I'm a business man not a charity. Ask the others if they want to pay more. Ask your father for a better deal, tell him his Denver place won't be worth so much if folks find out you and Maggie weren't married. Then your $4,700 covers a bigger percentage. A minute ago you were worried about your sister and didn't care if I burned the place down. Now you are going to hunt her down and take her money. I don't get you." Jake leaves the room to rejoin Ruby.When Jake enters the room Ruby breaths a sigh of relief as she stands to greet him. "You took a while I was worried." She sees a look of annoyance on Jake's face. "Everything ok?" Jake explains Tom's predicament and most of the discussion with an angry look on his face. "Perhaps one of you can overcome this hurdle before I resort to less pleasant methods."  'Well, Mr. Hoover, I suppose this falls to you and the remaining partner. Would you be willing to pay $1,150 for your share? Believe me, with the way we are going to spruce this place up and with me on the stage, by the way, have you heard me sing? Anyway, you'll get your money back in no time at all..." Niles agrees to the plan.  Ruby turns and whispers to Jake, "Do you think I should talk to William? Maybe I can get him to take the less money on a loan or something." Jake replies, "They are both angry and irrational, and I'm getting the same. I don't know what will work at this time. You are welcome to try anything." Jake crosses his arms and sits. Oh, it's ok honey," Ruby says in a soothing voice," "Just calm down." She walks over to Jake and gives him a kiss. "I'm sure you tried, these Whipple men just have no sense in them." Ruby turns to Mr. Hoover, "You are a smart man, you'll get your money back I'm sure. Now let's go find Job and make sure he still wants in and get this over with."Jake gets up stretches his arms a bit and takes a deep breath. "I'll go talk to Job, tell him that the price went up and convince him to come over tonight. Niles why don't you sell Ruby and I some $1,000 or so of your warehouse stock at cost tonight. We have the cash and that way you and Job can buy your stakes from Tom today. You go get Berg and bring him back here to cut the deal right now.  Tom Whipple signs the papers selling you and Job 25% each, we give him one night free in our Lone Star and he leaves with the clothes on his back and his family in tow. Tomorrow you go to the bank, get your money and buy the warehouse stock back from us." He winks at Ruby, "what do you think? You convince the Whipple men to take the money and run, or at least vacate the Lone Star in the morning."“I knew you would come up with something. I’ll go talk to the Whipples.” Ruby turns on her heel and walks out the door, then suddenly hurries back in. “I forgot something…” She kisses Jake then walks back out again, winking over her shoulder. Niles gives Jake a funny look and Jake just shrugs and laughs. "Redheads." Niles leaves to get Berg while Jake heads out to find Job. She finds the Whipples downstairs whispering at a table in the corner. “Gentlemen,” she nods as she approaches them and then sits, “Tom, you’ll have your money tonight. Berg will be over to sign the papers with Mr. Hoover and Mr. Kane. You will sign over everything in this place to be sure and you’ll get your extra $300. Tomorrow you will take yourselves and your family and get on the 9:00 A.M. stagecoach out of here, to start your new lives, so we can start ours. Agreed?” William Whipple starts to speak up and Ruby cuts him off. “Listen, if we must we will sour the deal with Mr. Kane and Mr. Hoover and then it won’t get done at all. Do you think you could get all your money from selling half this place to someone else? No I didn’t think so. Or what are you going to do? Stay here Tom, with Flossie and have Jake and I as partners? I'm not so sure you would like that, I think you're learning. So just accept that is the way it is going to be and take our well wishes for your new life instead of something not as pleasant.” Ruby smiles pleasantly at them while trying not to laugh at the look on their faces. “She extends her hand to them. “Agreed?” They reluctantly shake hands with her, realizing they have no other options. “Good. Let’s have a drink then, shall we?” Ruby heads to the bar and grabs a bottle of whiskey returning with two glasses. “It’s on you, Tom,” she smiles before heading outside to get some air and wait for all rest of the players to get back.Jake locates Job Kane and explains the situation to him, including the benefits of having Hoover as manager and a source of liquor. After a bit of cajoling Kane reluctantly agrees to pay the extra money Tom is asking for. "I'll get Ruby to sing a little more enthusiastically to help make up the difference." Jake kids with Kane.  The two gamblers drag themselves through the mud back to the Lone Star and find Ruby waiting outside. After a few more minutes Hoover arrives with Berg who comments, "You sure keep strange business hours." Berg does his task well as always, leading the group through all the details. Having been briefed by Jake both Hoover and Kane make sure Berg leaves no wiggle room regarding anything the new partners might need. As far as Jake is concerned father and son Whipple take turns continuing to be pains in the asses during the whole final contract, but Berg seems unperturbed. Ruby keeps distracting Jake whenever she notices his fingers start flexing. After what seems like an eternity, the contact is signed. Ruby gushes and wishes them well, Jake nods and smiles a forced smile. Jake lets them know he and Ruby will be spending the night in Maggie's old room tonight. Ruby is startled but smiles. William Whipple begins to protest but Jake cuts him off, "You have all the beds you can sleep in, I'm tired of listening to your complaints. You don't own the place any more." Berg unnecessarily points out that Jake is correct.  Jake takes Job aside and asks him to locate Jeff Mills. "Tell Jeff to show up for work bright and early, or his new employers will have something to say about that. He needs to make sure only personal possessions leave with the Whipples." Jake also chats with Hoover and asks where he is staying, and suggests he might try and find a place to sleep here tonight.  Hoover replies "I'm paid up until the end of the week at the Double Eagle Boarding House. I'll stay there for now." Jake says, "I need to take care of a friend, looks like you are running the place tonight Niles. We'll be back later to help close." After Berg excuses himself Jake takes Ruby aside, "Let's go check on Katherine. This took much longer than I thought it would." She agrees and they head back to the El Parador.  As they arrive Jakes says 'hola' to Pedro, who's eyes quickly take on a guilty look. He explains that Katherine left with the gambler Booth, and that he meant to send someone over to tell Jake but with the all the people here tonight it just slipped his mind. "I suppose she's OK with Booth." Jake says to Ruby "Why don't you go up and start packing while I go over and peek in on Katherine?" "You really think that is necessary?" Ruby asks. "No. I don't know. I'll just feel better. I won't stay." Jake shrugs again and leaves the Cantina. Jake drags himself through the mud again on his way to the Long Branch Saloon. "Damn mud." He says several times on the way. He tries taking some deep breaths on the way over to relax but it isn't working, he's been on edge since he heard the familiar hammer click of Tom's revolver. "I have half a mind to go back and shoot one of them just because." He mutters to himself. As he approaches the Long Branch he swings wide. He doesn't walk up to the door, but rather walks past the door like he's avoiding a mud puddle, his hat pulled low and his body slightly averted. As he does he quickly glances into the saloon. Fortunately it is not crowded and her slight form is easily recognizable. She is sitting up straight and formal, dressed finely with her hair done up. That is all he can see in the quick pass. He also notices Booth is there. Satisfied and not wanting to intrude, he heads back to the El Parador. "You walked all the way in the mud to just walk by the door? How is she doing?" Ruby makes that funny face she always does whenever she can't figure out why Jake did something.   He says, "I don't know how she is doing. I just know she is there. Which means she isn't at the Marshall's office or doing some other crazy thing." Jake starts collecting up his things. He stops when he notices that Ruby is just staring at him shaking her head. "Oh, stop that. I don't have to make sense all the time." Ruby and Jake pack up all their belongings and head down stairs. "Dorita, if you get someone to help us carry this over to the Lone Star you can have another room for this crowd." She looks at Jake questioningly but he only says, "I'll tell you later, you're busy now." He gives her some money to catch up with his bill and they head over to their new home.Ruby and Jake bring their things up to Maggie's old room and unceremoniously drop them in piles on the floor. They look at each other and laugh. "You stay here with Niles and keep things under control, I'll talk to Tony and let him know we can keep things the same for now and then I'm going out for a bit." He looks down at his feet before looking back up at Ruby. "I'm going to go back to the El Parador and wait for Katherine. I don't know what I'm going to say. I need to say something. And I'll tell her where we are." Ruby swallows and says, "This was supposed to be a celebration night." "Heh." Jake gently runs his hand across her cheek and grins. "Have the bourbon ready when I get back." They go down stairs, where it has gotten nearly empty. Jake has a few words with Tony, and Tony seems satisfied. Jake waves at Ruby and heads quickly out the door and back to the El Parador.The night at the Long Branch goes well for Kate. Booth does a good job of walking the line between showering her with attention and embarrasing her. He insists on her playing and stakes her $ 100 which she promptly manages to lose in short order, much to the satisfaction of the other players, who then spend a while longer before they lose it to Booth. Kate is surprised how aggressive a gambler the good Reverend is and is also surprised by the amount of profanity he uses when he loses with no attempts at apologizing afterwards. Two other players join the game after a bit but she only catches their first names Fritz and Horace. She didn't put in any of her own money after she ran through Mr. Booth's. Her turn at the piano seemed to have cleared her mind somewhat, and the need to concentrate on playing poker and the liberal consumption of brandy had kept it there. She did the best she could to be pleasant company, although she couldn't see her presence having much affect on Mr. Booth's table. Kate was tired by the time the game broke up and Mr. Booth escorted her back to the El Parador. The water was still high in the street, so she held her skirts up again. Mr. Booth talked on the way back, but Kate was settling back into the quiet that had fallen on her when she'd woken this afternoon. They stopped at the door to the cantina and Kate turned to Mr. Booth. "Thank you. I don't know if I helped you at all, but it was a nice evening." Through the door Kate can hear Dorita and Pedro cleaning up inside over the hushed voices of the few townsfolk crowding the inn who are still awake. "I'm tired. I should go inside." He says, "You were perfect. I expect to have a crowd of men at my table next Sunday night waiting for you to walk in the door." Katherine smiled weakly. "Perhaps." She toyed with the wrap around her shoulders. It was chilly outside in the still damp air. It would be warm and quiet up in her room, but her feet seemed rooted to the porch. Conrad's voice began to penetrate her mind "....alright? Mrs. Kale?" He paused. "Katherine?"  She says, "Uh, yes. Alright. Ah, fine. I should go to bed. Good night, Mr. Booth."Kate steps inside the Cantina, glad to let the plastered on smile slip off her face. She has no idea whether she had fooled anyone or not. It doesn't matter anyway. Her word was kept. She sees Jake sitting at the back of the Cantina. He is sitting alone holding a nearly empty whiskey glass. He has obviously been watching the door. He nods to her and beckons when they lock eyes. "Hi." He says in a low voice. "Ruby and I are going to be staying at the Lone Star tonight, all the papers are signed and we don't trust the Whipple men." Jake nervously plays with his glass. "Can we go upstairs and talk?" She nods and continues on past him and up to her room where she unlocks the door and lets Jake in before closing it behind him. Kate pours herself a drink from the whiskey bottle Ruby had brought up and sits down in the chair by the window. "Katherine..." Jake begins but he stops. "Look, Katherine....." He stops again. "It was hard for us to not tell you, and hard for us to tell you." He holds his hat uncomfortably in his two hands. "When you can, if you want, we'll tell you all we really know. Which is not a lot." He squirms a bit more before he says, "I didn't know what I was going to say when I came over, and I still don't." She lifts the glass, drains it, and pours another before she answers. "Ruby already told me everything. That's what she said." Her voice comes out flat and hollow, and her eyes stare straight ahead.   He answers, "I know there is really nothing I can say to make you feel better. Just let us know if we can do anything for you." Jake puts his hat on his head. "It's a hard thing to learn, hard to swallow. I..." He doesn't finish the thought. "Good night Katherine." She finally turns her head toward him, but doesn't really seem to be looking. "No. Nothing to say." She wondered why he kept standing there looking at her. She drained the glass again. "Good night." Jake stands there looking at her a moment longer. His mouth opens a couple of times to speak but nothing comes out. He looks down, turns and quietly closes the door.</blockquote>

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