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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2762390" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 162, “Ginnie” , Sunday, January 22nd, 1882, 4:30 P.M.</strong></p><p></p><p>Ruby does lift Jake's hat with a giggle before tapping it down on his head. "Good day," she nods to the Marshals as they walk away. "First, I want another kiss. Then we decide if we want to follow a newly blond haired Kate into whatever trouble she is getting herself into or try to find her later. I'm not sure if the Marshals are going to keep following us."</p><p></p><p>Jake keeps moving them away from the Earps and gives Ruby the kiss she asked for quite happily. "I recognized Katherine from the train. I won't even pretend to know what is happening, but I'll be that we'd be hard pressed to go anywhere right now without word getting back to one of the Earps. Which" Jake gives her a look, "is the point I was making last time." He quickly gives her another kiss before she can respond. </p><p></p><p>"The stage has already left, so we are all staying the night in Tombstone. Can I assume Katherine knows you are here?" Ruby nods yes. "Well then, let's get a room. You can welcome me back properly and we won't raise any suspicions. At least none we don't normally raise. If Katherine needs us urgently, she can find us. If we don't hear from her by tonight, we'll go looking for her. Let's go find a nice place that isn't the Crystal Palace, Big Nose Kate's or right next door to either."</p><p></p><p>Ruby and Jake find a room at the Cosmopolitan Hotel on Allen Street where they rent a room from the hotel's owner Albert C. Billicke. They get up to the room and Ruby looks around while Jake drops his bag. “Hold on a second,” Jake says while walking out of the room. Ruby tries to fix herself smoothing down her dress then sitting on the bed, fluffing her hair. Jake returns with a bottle of whiskey, two glasses and a smile. He sits next to her on the bed and they quietly share a drink, knowing there is a lot to say but not wanting to get into it. </p><p></p><p>Finally Ruby breaks the silence. “So… what happened in Tucson? What took you so long to get back?” Ruby asks hesitantly. “Later,” Jake replies, moving closer to Ruby, stroking her hair. “What about Kate? And don’t you want to hear…” Jake quickly stops her talking with his fingers, then a kiss. “Later,” he says again as he pushes her on the bed. </p><p></p><p>They kiss for a while and as Jake slides his hand to Ruby’s thigh she jumps, “Oowww!” Jake looks at her curiously, then to her leg, which has added the colors black and blue to the yellow and green bruise that wraps around her right upper thigh. “What in Hades happened to you?” Jake inquires looking it over. Ruby sighs, “I forgot about that. I got shot, on Friday.” Jake starts to sit up with a concerned look on his face. Ruby grabs his shirt before he can get away. “You said later!” she laughs and pulls him to her.</p><p></p><p>As Jake kisses her neck he says quietly "I've been thinking about you night and day and the best you can whisper to me is 'I wouldn't mind getting you to myself'." As he starts to adroitly loosen her dress he continues, "Perhaps I was gone too long, let's see if I can generate a little more interest."</p><p></p><p>Ruby closes her eyes and enjoys the kissing and dress loosening for a few moments with a smile on her face. But the smile slowly drops off and she opens her eyes and looks at Jake. She puts a hand on either side of his face and gently turns him to face her. “Damn it, why can’t I lie to you?” Ruby pauses to bite her lip before continuing, “Yes, you were gone too long. I missed you, every minute of every damn day. So much that I drank myself stupid last night and told Kate that I hated you. I don’t hate you, not even a little. But I was very scared that you weren’t going to come back to me.”</p><p></p><p>"Fear not fair maiden, I have returned." he replies in mock formal tones. "Right now I can't imagine being anywhere else. You're here, I'm here, and life is very, very good." He puts a finger to her lips and pulls away for a moment to hang his gun belt on the far side of the bed from the door with the grip accessible, and then puts his derringer under the pillow. She raises an eyebrow at him and he says, "I'm never far from my guns in Tombstone. Now, let's get back to us before Katherine or someone else decides to disturb us." And they do.</p><p></p><p>Kate and her young friend find a table at Gregory's Restaurant on Fremont Street where the owner, an Englishman named Thomas C. Gregory, shows them to a table. Kate made sure to step out of sight before they went into the restaurant and let the spells drop so she was back to her own appearance. It wouldn't do to be sitting in a restaurant and have the spells drop. "Now, what is it that I can do for you?" Kate said to the girl after they were seated. She kept the box of Tom's close to hand and in her sight.</p><p></p><p>The girl states, "You were honest with me so I will be honest with you. I have about run out of time in this town without being caught. I need to travel to someplace where they won't know me and I can get more of an education. I can't ride a horse very well or even explain why I would need to buy one. I can't be on a stagecoach alone either without drawing attention or ride the train for that matter. It's time for me to move on as the school master is due to spend time at my home as part of tuition. He will find out that the farm outside of town, with the father that never deals with people, doesn't exist.</p><p></p><p>I'm not looking for a mother, a savior, or even someone to travel with me. I need what you just did for Colby Tucker, write me a letter and put me on a train to somewhere that I can learn more, a bigger city maybe." The girl frowns with thought, then her eyes twinkle and an impish grin comes to her face. </p><p></p><p>"I now can pay for my ticket if I need to and should be able to slip into the crowd on the other end of however far my money will get me. Then you will never have to worry about me again and I will keep your secret." A far away, wanting look crosses the to thin face and she almost seems to speak to herself "After all, someday maybe I'll have that secret too." The serious look drops from her face. The speech has obviously been well thought out and there is relief as she relaxes a bit. "Oh, and you may call me Ginnie Ma'am."</p><p></p><p>Katherine sat quietly for a few minutes after Ginnie stopped speaking. She and this girl had certainly gotten off on the wrong foot, and her mood was such that it was difficult to feel very sympathetic. But she had given her word. Kate says, "Well, I can't put you on a train, as it would be a very bad idea for me to go anywhere near the train station in the next few days. I won't send you to my family, I just sent my friend there and I can't be sending every person I meet with problem for them to take care of. That leaves the stage, and it goes to Promise City. </p><p></p><p>Wherever you do go, you'll have to pay for your own ticket. My purse has gotten very thin today. I have enough to pay for this meal and my room with a bit left, but not much. I spent more than I expected. Tell me about how you live here, and how you came to be on your own. Perhaps then I can think of something better."</p><p></p><p>Ginnie looks at Kate obviously sizing her up. Kate can see her trying to decide how much to trust the woman sitting across the table from her. Ginnie had just finished the best meal she has had since her mother died three years earlier so decides to go for broke and tell the whole truth. She sits up ramrod straight in her chair and starts to speak in a clear clipped voice. </p><p></p><p>“You asked so I'll tell you. I spend most of my time trying to stay fed and clean. I steal only what I need to keep myself in school. I've slept in alleys and shacks and where ever I can keep myself safe and out of the bordellos. I had a family but they all got sick and died except my baby sister Ella, after we came over on the boat. That made us orphans. Ella was really little, not even a year so she got adopted really quick, but I don't know where she is now; they wouldn't tell me. I was too old so they sent me on the orphan train to a "nice family" that would take me in. Well the ‘nice man‘ was looking for young stock for his whorehouse, not a family, so I ran the first chance I could get. </p><p></p><p>Ginnie's eyes turn to steel "No one can make me go back! I won't!" I ran and hid and got here but that was almost a year ago and I can't keep up the lie much longer. If the Marshal found out the truth he'd send me back to the man that I was ‘placed‘ with and no one is going to believe a twelve-year-old Irish peasant girl over a landholder, I learned that long ago. That's it,... that's all of it,... there isn't any more." With that said, it is like the air has been let out of a balloon as Ginnie slumps in the chair exhausted, looking very young and frail.</p><p></p><p>Katherine sipped her tea as the girl ate a large dinner. She obviously wasn't used to eating well. The owner of the restaurant seemed disappointed that she only ordered one dinner, but he would get over it. </p><p></p><p>She listened as Ginnie's story came out, at first clear and finally at the end quiet, as if she had run out of energy. "My husband was Irish," Kate said quietly. "He was sick for nearly a year. He was getting better, but he died a few months after moving here. There are a lot of people who would take advantage of people like you and I, Ginnie. You were right to run, and from what I saw you've been taking care of yourself. I'm not going to send you to the Marshal. But living on your own, you're always going to be at risk. And as I said, I don't have enough money left here to send you anywhere and I can't be seen near the train station. </p><p></p><p>Promise City doesn't have a school, but I have many books and a good education under my belt. If you want to take the stage there, I could tutor you. But you'll need to pull your weight too. I have a new ranch that could use a helper, and we might be able to dig up some other work for you. You do the work, and I'll provide tutoring as well as a place to stay and food to eat. We can talk about money later, but I would expect the stealing to stop. You'd always be free to move on if you want."</p><p></p><p>Kate sees Ginnie perk up but then pull herself right back in as the walls slam down between the two of them and her eyes go hard. What little trust this child has had in the world has been smashed down far to many times "Why would you do something like that? Something so good for someone you don't even know? Someone like me? What do you really want?"</p><p></p><p>Kate replies, "What do I really want? I want my husband back. I want to feel happiness again. I want to raise my horses and study, and build a new life. In regards to you, I want you to earn your keep and be in a safe place while you learn what you need to improve your life. And I don't want to feel guilty in sending you off somewhere when I know I could have done more. </p><p></p><p>Why would I do something like this? Without people who helped me when I came here I would have been lost. I gave my word, I would help you and when I give my word I keep it. To send you out into the world to live the way you have been isn't helping. I hate how ugly the world can be, but I can take some of that ugliness away by helping you. Oh, and why someone like you? Mostly because you are someone who needs helping."</p><p></p><p>Kate looks over to see Ginnie's eyes fill with tears. Ginnie has lost of the faked bravado that she was fronting before and the edge is gone. She is a little girl sitting at a very empty plate. She reaches into a hidden pocket in her skirt and pulls out the $20 that Kate had given her earlier, sliding it across the table. "So when do we leave?" she says in a small voice.</p><p></p><p>"On the stage tomorrow afternoon. I have some business left here in town but it should be finished by then. Some friends on mine should be on the stage as well. Tonight you can stay with me in my hotel. We'll have to share when we get back to Promise City as well, I'm afraid, but we can worry about those arrangements later." Kate put the bill back in her pocketbook and counted out the money to pay for the meal. "We'll have to get you some clothes when we get back to Promise City. Do you need to go back and get your things?"</p><p></p><p>Ginnie replies, “I have two sets and that is more than enough for right now. I would need to get my things. If I need more clothing I can make it, I made this after all.” She pauses and says, “You’re not just teasing me? I really will have a place to stay? I can stay in the shed tonight if you want or just go get my things and sleep on the floor in the hotel room.." She seems to be speaking almost to herself, "That would be better warmer at least and I wouldn't have to watch out for the drunks."</p><p></p><p>Kate responds, "I'm not teasing you, and I'm sure they can set up a cot of some kind in the hotel room for you. And perhaps we'll just get you one or two dresses, just to save us the trouble of doing laundry nearly every day," Kate smiled as she stood up. "I'll walk with you part of the way to the station, I can't go all the way you understand. After that we'll go over to Big Nose Kate's and I'll get you settled before I go to finish my business." Kate picked up the box of Tom's things and followed Ginnie to the door.</p><p></p><p>Ginnie Stands up and heads for the door she keeps looking behind her at Kate as if she doesn't really believe that this is happening to her. </p><p></p><p>Kate laid her hand very lightly on the girls shoulder as they passed through the door. They walked through the twilight street toward the shed Ginnie had been calling home. Once it was in sight Kate stopped. "You run over and get your things. I'll be waiting right here," Kate said, pointing to a shadowy alcove. "Be quick though, I don't want to stand here too long in the open when the Marshal might come by. I'm staying at Big Nose Kate's, just in case he does come by and I have to hide. Go on now, quickly."</p><p></p><p>Ginnie slips into the shed and gathers her things, folding them tightly into a package that looks very much like a school bag bundle. She then scrapes away a patch of dirt from the floor and scoops up a pouch containing her money and a small piece of hand tatted lace. She straps it to a piece of string tied around her waist under her clothing. Ginnie checks carefully to make sure no one is watching then scoots out the back door, stopping quickly to wash the dirt from her hands in a nearby horse troth before she meets Kate in the shadows.</p><p></p><p>Kate waited nervously as Ginnie ran to get her things. It had been quite a while now since she'd snuck Colby Tucker on to the train, but she couldn't be sure that the Earps weren't still nosing around. And although she wanted to find Morgan, she didn't want to find him before she had Ginnie safely tucked away at Big Nose Kate's. </p><p></p><p>The girl came back faster than Kate had expected. She offered Ginnie her hand and they walked rapidly through town and back to the Hotel. Kate went up to the bar where Kate was. "Miss Haroney, would it be possible to have a cot set up in my room? I'd like to make my guest here comfortable," she said, smiling down at Ginnie. The restaurant and hotel owner looks at the girl and says "Yes, that can be arranged. I recognize her from around town but do not know the child's name or her parents. How is it that she is now with you?"</p><p></p><p>Kate replies, "She's been looking for me. I met her several times before I left for Promise City. She lost her parents a while back, and the people who were taking care of her left on the train today. They're going to send for her, until them I'm going to help out for a little while." Miss. Haroney replies, "A shame to lose one's parents so young. Well, Mrs. Kale, you and I have both known far many tragedies in our lifetimes. It is good that you are willing to help this young lady through hers."</p><p></p><p>"It's my pleasure. After so many people have helped me, it's nice to be able to help someone else. Come along dear, let's go get you settled." </p><p></p><p>Kate walked behind Ginnie to the stairs and up to her room. Inside she locked the door and breathed a long sigh. "I have to go back out. I'm afraid you're going to be bored here by yourself." She dug into Tom's box and pulled out one of the books he had on horses. "You can read this if you like. I might be gone for quite a while." </p><p></p><p>Kate sat down and wrote out a note, folded some cash in it, and put it in the other book in Tom's box. If she didn't come back, Ginnie would still be able to take that train. After the cot was brought up Kate made sure Ginnie was settled and then went back downstairs. When Kate begins to head down the stairs she sees Marshall Virgil Earp sitting alone on a leather loveseat in the lobby. He glances up, sees her, and stands.</p><p></p><p>Katherine forced herself to stay calm. Did it really matter if she walked alone to the Marshall's office, or if she had an escort? She was keenly aware of the weight of the pistol in her skirts, and of the derringer in her bodice. "Good evening Marshall, can I help you with something?"</p><p></p><p>"Ma'am, I'd like a few minutes of your time please" he states. He then gestures towards a small private dining room off from the main room. Kate glances across the room and sees the other Kate standing over near the piano with a neutral expression on her face. "Of course." Kate took the lead and walked over to the private room, waiting for the Marshall to open the door for her before stepping inside.</p><p></p><p>They enter the room and Virgil shuts the door. The table has a fancy tablecloth and place settings put out for six people. The curtains over the windows are drawn but the gas lantern in the room provides sufficient light. Earp gestures for Kate to have a seat while he remains standing. She took the offered seat and folded her hands neatly in her lap. She looked back at Virgil expectantly.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 2762390, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 162, “Ginnie” , Sunday, January 22nd, 1882, 4:30 P.M.[/B] Ruby does lift Jake's hat with a giggle before tapping it down on his head. "Good day," she nods to the Marshals as they walk away. "First, I want another kiss. Then we decide if we want to follow a newly blond haired Kate into whatever trouble she is getting herself into or try to find her later. I'm not sure if the Marshals are going to keep following us." Jake keeps moving them away from the Earps and gives Ruby the kiss she asked for quite happily. "I recognized Katherine from the train. I won't even pretend to know what is happening, but I'll be that we'd be hard pressed to go anywhere right now without word getting back to one of the Earps. Which" Jake gives her a look, "is the point I was making last time." He quickly gives her another kiss before she can respond. "The stage has already left, so we are all staying the night in Tombstone. Can I assume Katherine knows you are here?" Ruby nods yes. "Well then, let's get a room. You can welcome me back properly and we won't raise any suspicions. At least none we don't normally raise. If Katherine needs us urgently, she can find us. If we don't hear from her by tonight, we'll go looking for her. Let's go find a nice place that isn't the Crystal Palace, Big Nose Kate's or right next door to either." Ruby and Jake find a room at the Cosmopolitan Hotel on Allen Street where they rent a room from the hotel's owner Albert C. Billicke. They get up to the room and Ruby looks around while Jake drops his bag. “Hold on a second,” Jake says while walking out of the room. Ruby tries to fix herself smoothing down her dress then sitting on the bed, fluffing her hair. Jake returns with a bottle of whiskey, two glasses and a smile. He sits next to her on the bed and they quietly share a drink, knowing there is a lot to say but not wanting to get into it. Finally Ruby breaks the silence. “So… what happened in Tucson? What took you so long to get back?” Ruby asks hesitantly. “Later,” Jake replies, moving closer to Ruby, stroking her hair. “What about Kate? And don’t you want to hear…” Jake quickly stops her talking with his fingers, then a kiss. “Later,” he says again as he pushes her on the bed. They kiss for a while and as Jake slides his hand to Ruby’s thigh she jumps, “Oowww!” Jake looks at her curiously, then to her leg, which has added the colors black and blue to the yellow and green bruise that wraps around her right upper thigh. “What in Hades happened to you?” Jake inquires looking it over. Ruby sighs, “I forgot about that. I got shot, on Friday.” Jake starts to sit up with a concerned look on his face. Ruby grabs his shirt before he can get away. “You said later!” she laughs and pulls him to her. As Jake kisses her neck he says quietly "I've been thinking about you night and day and the best you can whisper to me is 'I wouldn't mind getting you to myself'." As he starts to adroitly loosen her dress he continues, "Perhaps I was gone too long, let's see if I can generate a little more interest." Ruby closes her eyes and enjoys the kissing and dress loosening for a few moments with a smile on her face. But the smile slowly drops off and she opens her eyes and looks at Jake. She puts a hand on either side of his face and gently turns him to face her. “Damn it, why can’t I lie to you?” Ruby pauses to bite her lip before continuing, “Yes, you were gone too long. I missed you, every minute of every damn day. So much that I drank myself stupid last night and told Kate that I hated you. I don’t hate you, not even a little. But I was very scared that you weren’t going to come back to me.” "Fear not fair maiden, I have returned." he replies in mock formal tones. "Right now I can't imagine being anywhere else. You're here, I'm here, and life is very, very good." He puts a finger to her lips and pulls away for a moment to hang his gun belt on the far side of the bed from the door with the grip accessible, and then puts his derringer under the pillow. She raises an eyebrow at him and he says, "I'm never far from my guns in Tombstone. Now, let's get back to us before Katherine or someone else decides to disturb us." And they do. Kate and her young friend find a table at Gregory's Restaurant on Fremont Street where the owner, an Englishman named Thomas C. Gregory, shows them to a table. Kate made sure to step out of sight before they went into the restaurant and let the spells drop so she was back to her own appearance. It wouldn't do to be sitting in a restaurant and have the spells drop. "Now, what is it that I can do for you?" Kate said to the girl after they were seated. She kept the box of Tom's close to hand and in her sight. The girl states, "You were honest with me so I will be honest with you. I have about run out of time in this town without being caught. I need to travel to someplace where they won't know me and I can get more of an education. I can't ride a horse very well or even explain why I would need to buy one. I can't be on a stagecoach alone either without drawing attention or ride the train for that matter. It's time for me to move on as the school master is due to spend time at my home as part of tuition. He will find out that the farm outside of town, with the father that never deals with people, doesn't exist. I'm not looking for a mother, a savior, or even someone to travel with me. I need what you just did for Colby Tucker, write me a letter and put me on a train to somewhere that I can learn more, a bigger city maybe." The girl frowns with thought, then her eyes twinkle and an impish grin comes to her face. "I now can pay for my ticket if I need to and should be able to slip into the crowd on the other end of however far my money will get me. Then you will never have to worry about me again and I will keep your secret." A far away, wanting look crosses the to thin face and she almost seems to speak to herself "After all, someday maybe I'll have that secret too." The serious look drops from her face. The speech has obviously been well thought out and there is relief as she relaxes a bit. "Oh, and you may call me Ginnie Ma'am." Katherine sat quietly for a few minutes after Ginnie stopped speaking. She and this girl had certainly gotten off on the wrong foot, and her mood was such that it was difficult to feel very sympathetic. But she had given her word. Kate says, "Well, I can't put you on a train, as it would be a very bad idea for me to go anywhere near the train station in the next few days. I won't send you to my family, I just sent my friend there and I can't be sending every person I meet with problem for them to take care of. That leaves the stage, and it goes to Promise City. Wherever you do go, you'll have to pay for your own ticket. My purse has gotten very thin today. I have enough to pay for this meal and my room with a bit left, but not much. I spent more than I expected. Tell me about how you live here, and how you came to be on your own. Perhaps then I can think of something better." Ginnie looks at Kate obviously sizing her up. Kate can see her trying to decide how much to trust the woman sitting across the table from her. Ginnie had just finished the best meal she has had since her mother died three years earlier so decides to go for broke and tell the whole truth. She sits up ramrod straight in her chair and starts to speak in a clear clipped voice. “You asked so I'll tell you. I spend most of my time trying to stay fed and clean. I steal only what I need to keep myself in school. I've slept in alleys and shacks and where ever I can keep myself safe and out of the bordellos. I had a family but they all got sick and died except my baby sister Ella, after we came over on the boat. That made us orphans. Ella was really little, not even a year so she got adopted really quick, but I don't know where she is now; they wouldn't tell me. I was too old so they sent me on the orphan train to a "nice family" that would take me in. Well the ‘nice man‘ was looking for young stock for his whorehouse, not a family, so I ran the first chance I could get. Ginnie's eyes turn to steel "No one can make me go back! I won't!" I ran and hid and got here but that was almost a year ago and I can't keep up the lie much longer. If the Marshal found out the truth he'd send me back to the man that I was ‘placed‘ with and no one is going to believe a twelve-year-old Irish peasant girl over a landholder, I learned that long ago. That's it,... that's all of it,... there isn't any more." With that said, it is like the air has been let out of a balloon as Ginnie slumps in the chair exhausted, looking very young and frail. Katherine sipped her tea as the girl ate a large dinner. She obviously wasn't used to eating well. The owner of the restaurant seemed disappointed that she only ordered one dinner, but he would get over it. She listened as Ginnie's story came out, at first clear and finally at the end quiet, as if she had run out of energy. "My husband was Irish," Kate said quietly. "He was sick for nearly a year. He was getting better, but he died a few months after moving here. There are a lot of people who would take advantage of people like you and I, Ginnie. You were right to run, and from what I saw you've been taking care of yourself. I'm not going to send you to the Marshal. But living on your own, you're always going to be at risk. And as I said, I don't have enough money left here to send you anywhere and I can't be seen near the train station. Promise City doesn't have a school, but I have many books and a good education under my belt. If you want to take the stage there, I could tutor you. But you'll need to pull your weight too. I have a new ranch that could use a helper, and we might be able to dig up some other work for you. You do the work, and I'll provide tutoring as well as a place to stay and food to eat. We can talk about money later, but I would expect the stealing to stop. You'd always be free to move on if you want." Kate sees Ginnie perk up but then pull herself right back in as the walls slam down between the two of them and her eyes go hard. What little trust this child has had in the world has been smashed down far to many times "Why would you do something like that? Something so good for someone you don't even know? Someone like me? What do you really want?" Kate replies, "What do I really want? I want my husband back. I want to feel happiness again. I want to raise my horses and study, and build a new life. In regards to you, I want you to earn your keep and be in a safe place while you learn what you need to improve your life. And I don't want to feel guilty in sending you off somewhere when I know I could have done more. Why would I do something like this? Without people who helped me when I came here I would have been lost. I gave my word, I would help you and when I give my word I keep it. To send you out into the world to live the way you have been isn't helping. I hate how ugly the world can be, but I can take some of that ugliness away by helping you. Oh, and why someone like you? Mostly because you are someone who needs helping." Kate looks over to see Ginnie's eyes fill with tears. Ginnie has lost of the faked bravado that she was fronting before and the edge is gone. She is a little girl sitting at a very empty plate. She reaches into a hidden pocket in her skirt and pulls out the $20 that Kate had given her earlier, sliding it across the table. "So when do we leave?" she says in a small voice. "On the stage tomorrow afternoon. I have some business left here in town but it should be finished by then. Some friends on mine should be on the stage as well. Tonight you can stay with me in my hotel. We'll have to share when we get back to Promise City as well, I'm afraid, but we can worry about those arrangements later." Kate put the bill back in her pocketbook and counted out the money to pay for the meal. "We'll have to get you some clothes when we get back to Promise City. Do you need to go back and get your things?" Ginnie replies, “I have two sets and that is more than enough for right now. I would need to get my things. If I need more clothing I can make it, I made this after all.” She pauses and says, “You’re not just teasing me? I really will have a place to stay? I can stay in the shed tonight if you want or just go get my things and sleep on the floor in the hotel room.." She seems to be speaking almost to herself, "That would be better warmer at least and I wouldn't have to watch out for the drunks." Kate responds, "I'm not teasing you, and I'm sure they can set up a cot of some kind in the hotel room for you. And perhaps we'll just get you one or two dresses, just to save us the trouble of doing laundry nearly every day," Kate smiled as she stood up. "I'll walk with you part of the way to the station, I can't go all the way you understand. After that we'll go over to Big Nose Kate's and I'll get you settled before I go to finish my business." Kate picked up the box of Tom's things and followed Ginnie to the door. Ginnie Stands up and heads for the door she keeps looking behind her at Kate as if she doesn't really believe that this is happening to her. Kate laid her hand very lightly on the girls shoulder as they passed through the door. They walked through the twilight street toward the shed Ginnie had been calling home. Once it was in sight Kate stopped. "You run over and get your things. I'll be waiting right here," Kate said, pointing to a shadowy alcove. "Be quick though, I don't want to stand here too long in the open when the Marshal might come by. I'm staying at Big Nose Kate's, just in case he does come by and I have to hide. Go on now, quickly." Ginnie slips into the shed and gathers her things, folding them tightly into a package that looks very much like a school bag bundle. She then scrapes away a patch of dirt from the floor and scoops up a pouch containing her money and a small piece of hand tatted lace. She straps it to a piece of string tied around her waist under her clothing. Ginnie checks carefully to make sure no one is watching then scoots out the back door, stopping quickly to wash the dirt from her hands in a nearby horse troth before she meets Kate in the shadows. Kate waited nervously as Ginnie ran to get her things. It had been quite a while now since she'd snuck Colby Tucker on to the train, but she couldn't be sure that the Earps weren't still nosing around. And although she wanted to find Morgan, she didn't want to find him before she had Ginnie safely tucked away at Big Nose Kate's. The girl came back faster than Kate had expected. She offered Ginnie her hand and they walked rapidly through town and back to the Hotel. Kate went up to the bar where Kate was. "Miss Haroney, would it be possible to have a cot set up in my room? I'd like to make my guest here comfortable," she said, smiling down at Ginnie. The restaurant and hotel owner looks at the girl and says "Yes, that can be arranged. I recognize her from around town but do not know the child's name or her parents. How is it that she is now with you?" Kate replies, "She's been looking for me. I met her several times before I left for Promise City. She lost her parents a while back, and the people who were taking care of her left on the train today. They're going to send for her, until them I'm going to help out for a little while." Miss. Haroney replies, "A shame to lose one's parents so young. Well, Mrs. Kale, you and I have both known far many tragedies in our lifetimes. It is good that you are willing to help this young lady through hers." "It's my pleasure. After so many people have helped me, it's nice to be able to help someone else. Come along dear, let's go get you settled." Kate walked behind Ginnie to the stairs and up to her room. Inside she locked the door and breathed a long sigh. "I have to go back out. I'm afraid you're going to be bored here by yourself." She dug into Tom's box and pulled out one of the books he had on horses. "You can read this if you like. I might be gone for quite a while." Kate sat down and wrote out a note, folded some cash in it, and put it in the other book in Tom's box. If she didn't come back, Ginnie would still be able to take that train. After the cot was brought up Kate made sure Ginnie was settled and then went back downstairs. When Kate begins to head down the stairs she sees Marshall Virgil Earp sitting alone on a leather loveseat in the lobby. He glances up, sees her, and stands. Katherine forced herself to stay calm. Did it really matter if she walked alone to the Marshall's office, or if she had an escort? She was keenly aware of the weight of the pistol in her skirts, and of the derringer in her bodice. "Good evening Marshall, can I help you with something?" "Ma'am, I'd like a few minutes of your time please" he states. He then gestures towards a small private dining room off from the main room. Kate glances across the room and sees the other Kate standing over near the piano with a neutral expression on her face. "Of course." Kate took the lead and walked over to the private room, waiting for the Marshall to open the door for her before stepping inside. They enter the room and Virgil shuts the door. The table has a fancy tablecloth and place settings put out for six people. The curtains over the windows are drawn but the gas lantern in the room provides sufficient light. Earp gestures for Kate to have a seat while he remains standing. She took the offered seat and folded her hands neatly in her lap. She looked back at Virgil expectantly. [/QUOTE]
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