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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2725788" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 156, “Ruby’s Rant” , Saturday, January 21st, 1882, 8:00 P.M.</strong></p><p></p><p>Nanuet had been his normally quiet self on the trip back to Promise City. He spent most of the trip in the lead scouting the trail. He was glad that the trip was uneventful other than the freakish weather at it's start. </p><p></p><p>Once they got back he dined with his companions then spent some time taking care of his mount. He then headed over to the grove and called for Maska. The two spent some time together and then Nanuet spent a few hours resting. </p><p></p><p>He awoke and stretched out slowly. He had been thinking about what Storm had said about his future. No revelations had come to him yet. "No rush I guess. I don't think I am going to figure it out tonight." He looked around the grove which was quiet and peaceful, but empty and lonely as well. He knew exactly where at least most of his friends would be so he cleaned himself up and headed over to the Lone Star.</p><p></p><p>Over at the Lone Star Chester has just arrived. "Chester!" Ruby had just finished her first set and was starting to feel pretty happy. "I am SO glad you made it tonight. I am doing just fine, and yourself? You want a drink?" She pours him his usual beer without waiting for his answer and offers it to him. Then she pours a whiskey for herself drinking it in one gulp. "You missed me sing, Chet. But don't worry, there is more where that came from."</p><p></p><p>He replies, "I'm sorry that I missed it. I can't wait until you and Kate perform again. Thanks for the beer." He raises the glass in salute, "Here's mud in your eye." After taking a swallow, he says, "I'm doing good. I lived through all we went through the past couple days. I hope the mother and child get where they're going safely. Kate's friends seem like they can handle anything they come across. It looks like there's a good crowd tonight." Ruby answers, "Yes, good crowd, and I'd better go and keep them happy. Back to singing!" She turns on her heel, hair flying around, and gets back on stage.</p><p></p><p>A lone woman who had entered during Ruby's set of songs took a seat near the stage. Before Ruby launches into her next set of songs she approaches the stage to approach Ruby and Kate. They assume that she is going to ask for a request for something to be sung. </p><p></p><p>The woman has a soft voice and meekly says "Excuse me, I'm Clarisse Townsend. I'm a waitress over at the Gay Lady. My friend Madge arranged for me do some singing at the Comique on Thursday night. Last night she had me sing both there as well as here since you were all away. Now that you're back it appears that you won't be needing me anymore, so I'll go back over to the Comique. It was nice meeting you."</p><p></p><p>"Miss Townsend, how nice to meet you, I'm Katherine Kale." Kate offered her hand to shake Miss Townsend's. Her eyes flicked over at the already inebriated Ruby. "I've heard good things about your singing here last night. I think, perhaps now that Ruby is a part owner in the Lone Star there will be nights when she can't sing, and having someone to fill in would allow her more than one night off a week. What do you think Ruby? You wouldn't have to worry about those nights when something comes up to keep you away."</p><p></p><p>Ruby replies, "Yes, I have been wanting another singer around here. Miss Townsend, why don't you sing the next set and we'll see how you do." She nods and heads to the stage to sing. Ruby sits next to Kate at the piano. "What do you think? Is she cute enough? I was thinking of getting someone who could open for me and waitress at the other times and fill in when I don't want to sing or can't be here.""</p><p></p><p>Clarisse, who is rather cute and appears to be in her late teens, tells Kate the three songs that she wishes to sing, namely Sweet Genevieve, Champagne Charlie and In the Evening By the Moonlight. Kate is familiar with all three but suggests that she not do the last one, as that is one that Ruby enjoys singing. Clarisse immediately says "Oh absolutely, I'm sure that I couldn't do it justice by comparison. I'll just do the two." Kate suggests that she finish with Whispering Hope, one of her own favorites, which Clarisse agrees to perform. </p><p></p><p>The girl acts shy and humbled as she first gets onto the stage, uncertain of where to stand. She begins the words of the George Cooper song, </p><p></p><p><em>O Genevieve, I'd give the world </em></p><p><em>To live again the lovely past! </em></p><p><em>The rose of youth is dew-impearl'd, </em></p><p><em>But now it withers in the blast.</em> </p><p></p><p>Her singing is faint and hard to hear beyond a few feet from the stage, but as she gets to the chorus of: </p><p></p><p><em>O Genevieve, Sweet Genevieve, </em></p><p><em>The days may come, the days may go, </em></p><p><em>But still the hands of mem'ry weave </em></p><p><em>The blissful dreams of long ago</em> </p><p></p><p>her confidence rises and she begins to let the words flow louder from her throat. She finishes the four verses and receives a fair amount of applause. </p><p></p><p>Job announces that his table will take a break and he makes a point of walking over and putting a $ 5 bill in the tips cup. That seems to also help the young girl's confidence as she begins the lighthearted comedic bar song. She had sung the first song in a soprano voice but during this next tune her range increases to more of an alto as she sings the popular George Leybourne and Arthur Lee standard: </p><p></p><p><em>I’ve seen a deal of gaiety through out my noisy life </em></p><p><em>With all my grand accomplishments I ne’er could get a wife, </em></p><p><em>The thing I most excel in is the P. R. F. G. game, </em></p><p><em>A noise all night in bed all day, and swimming in Champagne. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>For Champagne Charlie is my name, Champagne Charlie is my name </em></p><p><em>Good for any game at night, my boys, good for any game at night, my boys, </em></p><p><em>Champagne Charlie is my name, Champagne Charlie is my name </em></p><p><em>Good for any game at night, boys, who’ll come and join me in a spree.</em> </p><p></p><p>By the end of the fifth verse she gets a large round of applause. </p><p></p><p>She drops her voice to a softer level and in a voice which captures the attention of everyone in the room sings: </p><p></p><p><em>Soft as the voice of an angel, </em></p><p><em>Breathing a lesson unheard, </em></p><p><em>Hope with a gentle persuasion </em></p><p><em>Whispers her comforting word: </em></p><p><em>Wait till the darkness is over, </em></p><p><em>Wait till the tempest is done, </em></p><p><em>Hope for the sunshine tomorrow, </em></p><p><em>After the shower is gone. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice, </em></p><p><em>Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>If, in the dusk of the twilight, </em></p><p><em>Dim be the region afar, </em></p><p><em>Will not the deepening darkness </em></p><p><em>Brighten the glimmering star? </em></p><p><em>Then when the night is upon us, </em></p><p><em>Why should the heart sink away? </em></p><p><em>When the dark midnight is over, </em></p><p><em>Watch for the breaking of day. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice, </em></p><p><em>Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.</em> </p><p></p><p>She quickly exits the stage among more applause.</p><p></p><p>Katherine's hands stilled on the keys as the last notes died away and Miss Townsend hurried off the stage. Her vision blurred momentarily until the tears in her eyes fell with a light patter onto the keyboard. "Mrs. Kale, are you alright?" the young girl asked as she stood nervously beside the piano. </p><p></p><p>Kate lifted her head. "Yes, yes I'm sorry. You sing beautifully. Any problems you had are nothing a few nights worth of singing won't cure. Your style is quite different from Miss West's; you should compliment each other nicely. This is yours," she said, digging money out of the tip cup. </p><p></p><p>"I believe Miss West would be glad to have you here. Most nights as an opener for her and then to help with the witnessing, and as the main singer on the nights when she wants to rest her voice or has other business to attend to. Would you be amenable?"</p><p></p><p>She quickly puts the money from the cup into a pocket of her dress. replies "Well, I would be honored to sing here. I'm not sure if Mr. Lumley would allow me to waitress somewhere other than the Gay Lady. He won't allow any of his singers to sing anywhere else."</p><p></p><p>Kate replies, "That's sound business sense. I know Miss West will be glad to have you as a singer. I'm not authorized to negotiate for the Lone Star, of course, but I think if you decided you would like to change your place of employment you would be welcomed. For now, let's say that you will open for Miss West, and we will call on you for nights when she would like you to take over. You'll be entitled to whatever tips you make, of course. And you'll receive a wage. I don't know what that will be, I'm sure if you stop by tomorrow Miss West will have it settled with the other owners." "Thank you, I will" she says before hurrying out the door. </p><p></p><p>The remainder of the evening goes well, Job's game wrapping up at around 11:00 PM and Tony's a half-hour later. Collectively they made around $ 300, so $ 60 was put into the owner's share. </p><p>Chester and Kate head back to the El Parador while Ruby heads upstairs to her room.</p><p></p><p>After a half hour or so alone at the Lone Star, Ruby makes her way to the El Parador and stumbles up to Kate’s room. She not so quietly knocks on the door and waits for Kate to answer. When she does she makes her way into the room and falls onto her bed. She puts a big pout on her face before she starts rambling. Ruby is slightly slurring some words and Kate can still smell the alcohol on her. </p><p></p><p>“Can I tell you, I just HATE him right now. Look how he left me, Kate,” Ruby whines, “I bought a stupid SALOON! What the heck do I know about running SALOONS! And today I tried to get some decisions made and they still just wanted to talk to HIM and not me. I moved out of here,” she waves her arms around, “And into the Lone Star where I am ALONE, BY MYSELF. How could he just pick up and leave like that? Oh, I HATE HIM!!” She turns her head towards Kate and says quietly with a sigh. “I don’t think he is coming back. It’s been 6 days already.” </p><p></p><p>Kate held back on answering for a moment. "He isn't the only one who isn't back yet. Do you think Mr. Gonzales isn't coming back? Do you really think Jake would invest all that money here and just leave? And what's more, you really believe he would just leave you without a word? I know Jake isn't a gentleman in the way I know the word, but he has his own sense of honor. If he ever decides he wants to be free, he'll tell you. </p><p></p><p>As for the men wanting to talk to Jake, if you've been leaving all the business decisions up to him so far, then that is who they are used to dealing with. It's rather a quick change for you to speak for him all the sudden." </p><p></p><p>“I am SURE that Jake dumped Mr. Gonzales the minute they got there I have no idea how long Mr. Gonzales was supposed to be gone, but I DO know that Jake said he would be back as quickly as he could and he should be back by now. The money? He can always get more. I think he got there and maybe got himself into trouble, or someone might have convinced him not to come back or maybe he just decided I was too much trouble I don’t think I told you what happened with Adair…” Ruby continues her ramble mentioning how Adair tried to shoot Jake and that Van Horne stopped him, but does not mention anything else about Van Horne. “So maybe he decided better to leave then get shot in the back because of some stupid girl. As for the business stuff, there is no reason why they shouldn’t be able to talk with me. I own a quarter of the stupid place.” </p><p></p><p>“He’s the one who convinced me to stay HERE and now he is the one who is GONE, DAMMIT!” Ruby glanced at Kate and realized she didn’t know anything about what had happened last Friday. She decided to shut up right then. </p><p></p><p>"You don't think Jake knows how to get himself shot at without you to help him. Believe me, a few bullets aren't going to keep him away. If Jake wanted a quiet life with a perfect little wife, he's still be in Philadelphia. What he wants is a woman like Ruby West. And she is too unique to find another." </p><p></p><p>“Are you saying I wouldn’t make the perfect little wife? You sound like my mother…” Ruby says seriously. She pauses a moment then starts laughing. “I’m sorry, Kate but you do,” she says shrugging. When she finally stops laughing her face turns serious again and she looks to Kate. “You might be right Kate, but I’m afraid, what if I’m right? I just miss him and I hate him for that.” </p><p></p><p>"Being a perfect wife isn't for everybody, Ruby. I'm not suggesting you should be. And you could be right, but I doubt it. As I said, I think if Jake ever wants to be free he'll tell you, he won't just disappear. As for hating him, well, sometimes that goes along with caring about someone. It's the tradeoff for the happiness." </p><p></p><p>“Wife?” Ruby practically spit the words out. “I’m not going to let any man own me, Kate, you must be kidding about that. I mean, it would take an awful lot of convincing and some really good reasons…” Ruby just shook her head at the thought. “I admit, I’m not very good at this caring for other people stuff.” She puts her head down on the pillow. “Can I stay here? It’s lonely over there being alone.” Kate sat down on the bed and stroked Ruby's hair. "You can stay here. We can be lonely together." </p><p></p><p>Ruby was still curled up asleep when Katherine woke in the morning. She crept quietly around the room, dressing herself in the gray dress she had worn to court and packing a simple skirt and blouse in her small travel bag. After she was presentable she pulled out her journal and carefully ripped out another page. The pen made soft scratching sounds as she wrote Ruby's name across the front of the note and folded it so it would stand on the table in front of Tom's picture. It should reassure Ruby that she was indeed coming back. </p><p></p><p>Kate stopped briefly to tell Dorita she would be back tomorrow, and slipped out of the Cantina. She went to the Wells Fargo office, bought a ticket to Tombstone, and boarded the stagecoach.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 2725788, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 156, “Ruby’s Rant” , Saturday, January 21st, 1882, 8:00 P.M.[/B] Nanuet had been his normally quiet self on the trip back to Promise City. He spent most of the trip in the lead scouting the trail. He was glad that the trip was uneventful other than the freakish weather at it's start. Once they got back he dined with his companions then spent some time taking care of his mount. He then headed over to the grove and called for Maska. The two spent some time together and then Nanuet spent a few hours resting. He awoke and stretched out slowly. He had been thinking about what Storm had said about his future. No revelations had come to him yet. "No rush I guess. I don't think I am going to figure it out tonight." He looked around the grove which was quiet and peaceful, but empty and lonely as well. He knew exactly where at least most of his friends would be so he cleaned himself up and headed over to the Lone Star. Over at the Lone Star Chester has just arrived. "Chester!" Ruby had just finished her first set and was starting to feel pretty happy. "I am SO glad you made it tonight. I am doing just fine, and yourself? You want a drink?" She pours him his usual beer without waiting for his answer and offers it to him. Then she pours a whiskey for herself drinking it in one gulp. "You missed me sing, Chet. But don't worry, there is more where that came from." He replies, "I'm sorry that I missed it. I can't wait until you and Kate perform again. Thanks for the beer." He raises the glass in salute, "Here's mud in your eye." After taking a swallow, he says, "I'm doing good. I lived through all we went through the past couple days. I hope the mother and child get where they're going safely. Kate's friends seem like they can handle anything they come across. It looks like there's a good crowd tonight." Ruby answers, "Yes, good crowd, and I'd better go and keep them happy. Back to singing!" She turns on her heel, hair flying around, and gets back on stage. A lone woman who had entered during Ruby's set of songs took a seat near the stage. Before Ruby launches into her next set of songs she approaches the stage to approach Ruby and Kate. They assume that she is going to ask for a request for something to be sung. The woman has a soft voice and meekly says "Excuse me, I'm Clarisse Townsend. I'm a waitress over at the Gay Lady. My friend Madge arranged for me do some singing at the Comique on Thursday night. Last night she had me sing both there as well as here since you were all away. Now that you're back it appears that you won't be needing me anymore, so I'll go back over to the Comique. It was nice meeting you." "Miss Townsend, how nice to meet you, I'm Katherine Kale." Kate offered her hand to shake Miss Townsend's. Her eyes flicked over at the already inebriated Ruby. "I've heard good things about your singing here last night. I think, perhaps now that Ruby is a part owner in the Lone Star there will be nights when she can't sing, and having someone to fill in would allow her more than one night off a week. What do you think Ruby? You wouldn't have to worry about those nights when something comes up to keep you away." Ruby replies, "Yes, I have been wanting another singer around here. Miss Townsend, why don't you sing the next set and we'll see how you do." She nods and heads to the stage to sing. Ruby sits next to Kate at the piano. "What do you think? Is she cute enough? I was thinking of getting someone who could open for me and waitress at the other times and fill in when I don't want to sing or can't be here."" Clarisse, who is rather cute and appears to be in her late teens, tells Kate the three songs that she wishes to sing, namely Sweet Genevieve, Champagne Charlie and In the Evening By the Moonlight. Kate is familiar with all three but suggests that she not do the last one, as that is one that Ruby enjoys singing. Clarisse immediately says "Oh absolutely, I'm sure that I couldn't do it justice by comparison. I'll just do the two." Kate suggests that she finish with Whispering Hope, one of her own favorites, which Clarisse agrees to perform. The girl acts shy and humbled as she first gets onto the stage, uncertain of where to stand. She begins the words of the George Cooper song, [I]O Genevieve, I'd give the world To live again the lovely past! The rose of youth is dew-impearl'd, But now it withers in the blast.[/I] Her singing is faint and hard to hear beyond a few feet from the stage, but as she gets to the chorus of: [I]O Genevieve, Sweet Genevieve, The days may come, the days may go, But still the hands of mem'ry weave The blissful dreams of long ago[/I] her confidence rises and she begins to let the words flow louder from her throat. She finishes the four verses and receives a fair amount of applause. Job announces that his table will take a break and he makes a point of walking over and putting a $ 5 bill in the tips cup. That seems to also help the young girl's confidence as she begins the lighthearted comedic bar song. She had sung the first song in a soprano voice but during this next tune her range increases to more of an alto as she sings the popular George Leybourne and Arthur Lee standard: [I]I’ve seen a deal of gaiety through out my noisy life With all my grand accomplishments I ne’er could get a wife, The thing I most excel in is the P. R. F. G. game, A noise all night in bed all day, and swimming in Champagne. For Champagne Charlie is my name, Champagne Charlie is my name Good for any game at night, my boys, good for any game at night, my boys, Champagne Charlie is my name, Champagne Charlie is my name Good for any game at night, boys, who’ll come and join me in a spree.[/I] By the end of the fifth verse she gets a large round of applause. She drops her voice to a softer level and in a voice which captures the attention of everyone in the room sings: [I]Soft as the voice of an angel, Breathing a lesson unheard, Hope with a gentle persuasion Whispers her comforting word: Wait till the darkness is over, Wait till the tempest is done, Hope for the sunshine tomorrow, After the shower is gone. Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice, Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice. If, in the dusk of the twilight, Dim be the region afar, Will not the deepening darkness Brighten the glimmering star? Then when the night is upon us, Why should the heart sink away? When the dark midnight is over, Watch for the breaking of day. Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice, Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.[/I] She quickly exits the stage among more applause. Katherine's hands stilled on the keys as the last notes died away and Miss Townsend hurried off the stage. Her vision blurred momentarily until the tears in her eyes fell with a light patter onto the keyboard. "Mrs. Kale, are you alright?" the young girl asked as she stood nervously beside the piano. Kate lifted her head. "Yes, yes I'm sorry. You sing beautifully. Any problems you had are nothing a few nights worth of singing won't cure. Your style is quite different from Miss West's; you should compliment each other nicely. This is yours," she said, digging money out of the tip cup. "I believe Miss West would be glad to have you here. Most nights as an opener for her and then to help with the witnessing, and as the main singer on the nights when she wants to rest her voice or has other business to attend to. Would you be amenable?" She quickly puts the money from the cup into a pocket of her dress. replies "Well, I would be honored to sing here. I'm not sure if Mr. Lumley would allow me to waitress somewhere other than the Gay Lady. He won't allow any of his singers to sing anywhere else." Kate replies, "That's sound business sense. I know Miss West will be glad to have you as a singer. I'm not authorized to negotiate for the Lone Star, of course, but I think if you decided you would like to change your place of employment you would be welcomed. For now, let's say that you will open for Miss West, and we will call on you for nights when she would like you to take over. You'll be entitled to whatever tips you make, of course. And you'll receive a wage. I don't know what that will be, I'm sure if you stop by tomorrow Miss West will have it settled with the other owners." "Thank you, I will" she says before hurrying out the door. The remainder of the evening goes well, Job's game wrapping up at around 11:00 PM and Tony's a half-hour later. Collectively they made around $ 300, so $ 60 was put into the owner's share. Chester and Kate head back to the El Parador while Ruby heads upstairs to her room. After a half hour or so alone at the Lone Star, Ruby makes her way to the El Parador and stumbles up to Kate’s room. She not so quietly knocks on the door and waits for Kate to answer. When she does she makes her way into the room and falls onto her bed. She puts a big pout on her face before she starts rambling. Ruby is slightly slurring some words and Kate can still smell the alcohol on her. “Can I tell you, I just HATE him right now. Look how he left me, Kate,” Ruby whines, “I bought a stupid SALOON! What the heck do I know about running SALOONS! And today I tried to get some decisions made and they still just wanted to talk to HIM and not me. I moved out of here,” she waves her arms around, “And into the Lone Star where I am ALONE, BY MYSELF. How could he just pick up and leave like that? Oh, I HATE HIM!!” She turns her head towards Kate and says quietly with a sigh. “I don’t think he is coming back. It’s been 6 days already.” Kate held back on answering for a moment. "He isn't the only one who isn't back yet. Do you think Mr. Gonzales isn't coming back? Do you really think Jake would invest all that money here and just leave? And what's more, you really believe he would just leave you without a word? I know Jake isn't a gentleman in the way I know the word, but he has his own sense of honor. If he ever decides he wants to be free, he'll tell you. As for the men wanting to talk to Jake, if you've been leaving all the business decisions up to him so far, then that is who they are used to dealing with. It's rather a quick change for you to speak for him all the sudden." “I am SURE that Jake dumped Mr. Gonzales the minute they got there I have no idea how long Mr. Gonzales was supposed to be gone, but I DO know that Jake said he would be back as quickly as he could and he should be back by now. The money? He can always get more. I think he got there and maybe got himself into trouble, or someone might have convinced him not to come back or maybe he just decided I was too much trouble I don’t think I told you what happened with Adair…” Ruby continues her ramble mentioning how Adair tried to shoot Jake and that Van Horne stopped him, but does not mention anything else about Van Horne. “So maybe he decided better to leave then get shot in the back because of some stupid girl. As for the business stuff, there is no reason why they shouldn’t be able to talk with me. I own a quarter of the stupid place.” “He’s the one who convinced me to stay HERE and now he is the one who is GONE, DAMMIT!” Ruby glanced at Kate and realized she didn’t know anything about what had happened last Friday. She decided to shut up right then. "You don't think Jake knows how to get himself shot at without you to help him. Believe me, a few bullets aren't going to keep him away. If Jake wanted a quiet life with a perfect little wife, he's still be in Philadelphia. What he wants is a woman like Ruby West. And she is too unique to find another." “Are you saying I wouldn’t make the perfect little wife? You sound like my mother…” Ruby says seriously. She pauses a moment then starts laughing. “I’m sorry, Kate but you do,” she says shrugging. When she finally stops laughing her face turns serious again and she looks to Kate. “You might be right Kate, but I’m afraid, what if I’m right? I just miss him and I hate him for that.” "Being a perfect wife isn't for everybody, Ruby. I'm not suggesting you should be. And you could be right, but I doubt it. As I said, I think if Jake ever wants to be free he'll tell you, he won't just disappear. As for hating him, well, sometimes that goes along with caring about someone. It's the tradeoff for the happiness." “Wife?” Ruby practically spit the words out. “I’m not going to let any man own me, Kate, you must be kidding about that. I mean, it would take an awful lot of convincing and some really good reasons…” Ruby just shook her head at the thought. “I admit, I’m not very good at this caring for other people stuff.” She puts her head down on the pillow. “Can I stay here? It’s lonely over there being alone.” Kate sat down on the bed and stroked Ruby's hair. "You can stay here. We can be lonely together." Ruby was still curled up asleep when Katherine woke in the morning. She crept quietly around the room, dressing herself in the gray dress she had worn to court and packing a simple skirt and blouse in her small travel bag. After she was presentable she pulled out her journal and carefully ripped out another page. The pen made soft scratching sounds as she wrote Ruby's name across the front of the note and folded it so it would stand on the table in front of Tom's picture. It should reassure Ruby that she was indeed coming back. Kate stopped briefly to tell Dorita she would be back tomorrow, and slipped out of the Cantina. She went to the Wells Fargo office, bought a ticket to Tombstone, and boarded the stagecoach. [/QUOTE]
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"Revenge, Renewal and the Promise of a New Year" (Boot Hill/D&D)
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