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Story Hour
"Revenge, Renewal and the Promise of a New Year" (Boot Hill/D&D)
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2800158" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 170, “Homecoming”, Monday, January 23rd, 1882, 3:00 P.M</strong>.</p><p></p><p>Looking out at the Apache Katherine slid across the seat toward Ginnie, thankful there was no one else on the stage. "Don't worry, this will protect you," Kate said and then began casting the Mage Armor spell, but targeting it on Ginnie. Kate says, "Let's hope they don't attack." Ginnie looks frantically around the coach for the smallest most hidden place she can come up with and tucks herself in covering herself and trying her best to be a very small target shaking with fear</p><p></p><p>Ruby had fallen fast sleep on Jake's shoulder. She felt him move for his gun and it woke her. She looked out the window and saw the Apache. "I don't think we need to worry, there were Apache surrounding Mr. Shaw and myself on the coach ride over but they didn't attack us. I guess they just want to let us know they are around." She looked at Kate and gave her a little nod towards Ginnie, so they wouldn't scare the kid.</p><p></p><p>Kate knelt down next to Ginnie and laid her hand on her shoulder. "Ruby's right, they have no reason to harm us. And I'll take care of you." She began to rub the girls shoulder. "We'll be alright."</p><p></p><p>Ginnie, do you know any songs? I looove to sing," Ruby says while looking out the window then back to the cowering Ginnie, "Now would be a great time to sing a song... But if you get scared, which I know you won't, there should be a spot you can fit." Ruby stands a lifts the seat in the coach, revealing the under seat, large enough for the small girl to fit. "Only if you need it." She sits back down and starts singing quietly, trying to calm the girl down.</p><p></p><p>Chuck Nevers pokes his down from above and tells those inside the coach "Keep your weapons down, we've ridden by these guys three times in the last two days and they haven't stopped us yet. Some of you know that we can get some extra speed from this rig if we have to but I'd rather not let them know that until it comes to needing it." </p><p></p><p>The stage continues onward. The Apache slowly ride closer but stop when they are still thirty feet from the roadway. When they pass from the area everyone gives a collective sigh of relief. The remaining trip back to Promise City is uneventful, arriving on Main Street in front of the Wells Fargo Office at around 5:45 P.M. </p><p></p><p>It actually takes Ginnie until the coach stops to realize that they are not going to be killed by Indians. She thinks that woman with the red hair was nuts thinking that singing would help! It would have just let the Indians know that there were women on the coach and given them a better reason to attack! </p><p></p><p>It seemed very strange for someone else to take care of her and Ginnie wasn't really sure what to do about it. At least here she should have a roof over her head. food and maybe a chance to really learn something. And the Ma'am Katherine was looking for simple lace in return for part of the debt. That was something Ginnie could handle easily but right now she needed to start a new life. </p><p></p><p>It was a relief to be back in Promise City. Kate gathered her things and dragged herself from the coach, then helped Ginnie down. The girl stepped out of the coach and looked around at her new home. Ruby follows Ginnie off the stage and leans over to whisper into her ear saying, “Kid, you don’t know anything about me. But I know that you aren’t as smart as you think you are and that comes from our little meeting that we had the last time I was in Tombstone. I knew you weren’t sleeping last night. But Kate trusts you to know her business and that is her decision.” </p><p></p><p>Ruby raises her eyebrow at Ginnie. “You know that I could have caused a lot of trouble for you, turned you into the law in Tombstone but I didn’t. I know what it’s like to have to take care of yourself and it’s not easy. No one, well, not any of us anyway, is going to take away your chance at learning. As a matter of fact, if you relax a bit, maybe you’ll even learn something from all of us. We can help each other. And you couldn’t have a better teacher than Kate. I always knew that Kate would be a teacher. But remember one thing,” Ruby leans back in her seat, “we will be keeping an eye on you.” Deciding that the lecture had gone on long enough Kate says, "All right Ruby, that's enough.” </p><p></p><p>"Are you going back to the El Parador or to the Lone Star?" Kate asked Ruby. "I'm going back to the Lone Star. I need a real nap in my own bed. Do you need help with anything?" Ruby tried not to look at the kid as she said that. Kate nodded no, so Ruby made her way back to the Lone Star with Jake in tow. As soon as they got in Jake was greeted by Niles and Job, who were preparing for the night. Ruby continued upstairs alone to their room, while Jake made small talk with them. She removed her dress, laid face down in bed and fell asleep.</p><p></p><p>Jake gets the latest news and stories, listening to what's said as well as what isn't. He helps himself to a welcome back drink and has a tour around, checks out the construction and finally locates Jeff Mills. Jake spends some time with him, making him feel good and listening in particular to what has been going on from his point of view. "It's good to be back, and I'm looking forward to tonight."</p><p></p><p>"This is the El Parador Hotel and Cantina Ginnie, I live here. For now anyway. It's a good place until I get a home of my own." Katherine guided the girl inside and found the proprietress. Ginnie, this is Dorita, she's in charge here. Dorita, this is Ginnie, she's going to be staying with me for a while. I wonder, might you have a room with two beds in it I could change to? Or a cot to put in my room if that's not possible?"</p><p></p><p>"Humph!" Dorita quickly sizes up Ginnie as she takes a look at Kate "First you no eat, now you bring home child that no eat! You both sit, eat, then we talk about room and cot and things." Dorita grabs both of Ginnie's hands stroking her thumbs over Ginnie's palms "You work hard already, you eat here, lots, now sit, we talk later, Sit!" with that she pushes Ginnie into a chair at a nearby table and stares down Kate until she follows suit.</p><p></p><p>A few minutes later Dorita brought two loaded plates and set them down at the table. "It isn't as if I haven't been feeding her, Dorita. But it takes more than two meals you know." Kate looked in dismay at the plate in front of her. Dorita's food was always good, but she could never tackle that plate. Ruby had been right though, she was getting thin; she couldn't even get her corset tight enough anymore. The laces were pulled as tight as they would go and it was still loose. She at least picked up her fork instead of pushing the plate away.</p><p></p><p>Ginnie sat down to her forth full meal in less than two days. she'd have eaten more than she normally had in a full week when she finished this overfull plate. This place that Ma'am Katherine stayed was nothing like she would have expected there were elves everywhere and none of them seemed angry or mean like the few elves she had met before. And Ma'am Katherine seemed to treat them like equals she even did as she was told by the woman from the kitchen Dorita but then again Ginnie didn't think anyone was likely to disobey that lady the price wouldn't be worth it. Ginnie was about to pick up her fork when she realized that she hadn't washed her hands and there was no way that she would ever break her promise to mama. </p><p></p><p>Ginnie says, "Excuse me but is there a place I can wash up before dinner?" Dorita took a second look at the child and pointed the way to the well in the back of the kitchen. Doirta tells Kate "Well she may no eat as much as she should but she have good manors now Kate you EAT no push food around put in mouth!"</p><p></p><p>Kate managed to eat perhaps a quarter of the food before her stomach seriously threatened to rebel. Ginnie attacked the plate with gusto when she returned and bolted it down quicker than Kate would have thought possible. When Ginnie reached the bottom of the plate Dorita came around again. "Well Dorita, what do you think? Is there a room with two beds I could rent? Oh, and is your Grandfather back yet?" Dorita replies, “No two bed rooms at moment, Pedro already move cot into your room. Grandfather no back yet."</p><p></p><p>Kate was worried for a moment until she realized that Mr. Gonzales probably had not moved Maggie by magic. The trip to Los Angeles and then staying for a few days to make sure she was settled would account for his absence. "Thank you, Dorita. Why don't we go up to my room and get you settled Ginnie? I have some very interesting books you can read for a while, I'd like to get some more sleep." </p><p></p><p>The two went up to Kate's room, and Kate showed Ginnie where she could put her things. "I'll introduce you to the others here later. I'm not going to work for the next few days, so we can work out when to work and when to study later on tonight. If you get hungry, you can go downstairs and ask Dorita. She'll put it on my bill. Will you be alright doing that?" The girl nods yes. Kate lies down for a nap. </p><p></p><p>After he finishes talking with Jeff Mills, Jake grabs his bag and heads upstairs. He opens the door to their room and stands on the threshold for a minute shaking his head. The noise of opening the door wakes Ruby who rubs her eyes and says, "I was tired, I hadn't been sleeping well while you were gone." </p><p></p><p>"No, I'm not shaking my head at you. It's me. I own a quarter of a damn saloon and I have my own room to go to where I don't have to pay rent." Jake whistles. "Who could have predicted that?" He closes the door and throws his bag on the floor before sitting down on the bed next to Ruby. "Who in Hades could have predicted that?" He laughs well naturedly.</p><p></p><p>Ruby slowly turns herself over, and Jake can tell she is still sleepy. “Who could have predicted any of this? Not me, not ever. But it’s ours, and it’s real, unless we are stuck in a dream. If that’s true, I don’t want to wake up.” She smiles and grabs the sheet, pulling it over herself. “So, are you going to tell me what happened in Tucson? Or is it a big secret?”</p><p></p><p>"Mostly I just used the time to catch up with O'Brien. Don't ever mention his name though, or tell anyone that Mr. Van Horne is a disguise. He's wanted for murder. Do you remember what I told you about the last time I saw him before Promise City? Apparently I killed the guy that tried to kill him. Now he's wanted for murder. Oh, and I did sell some of the jewelry." Jake rubs his beard. "We did talk about Adair." He tells her all O'Brien told him; the honest gambling, his travels and education, the killings of men and lovers, his being ambidextrous, not drinking alcohol, that O'Brien thought his staff was loyal, about Deacon Prosper McCoy and his wife, and finally about Jane "Little Britches" Boag. "Ruby dear, that loco wants to kill you just because you slapped him. Since he believes Baxter's rubbish, he wanted to kill your husband too." </p><p></p><p>Ruby is visibly upset to find out that Jake was shot at because Adair thinks they are married. “I’m really sorry I got you involved in this. That Adair is one crazy and evil man. I think I have to go and speak with him again, I don’t want you getting killed because of me, and I couldn’t bear it if that was what happened. Besides, if you were going to get killed for me you should at least actually be getting the benefit of being married to me, no?” Ruby laughs for a bit then drifts off into her thoughts. Jake sees her expression change, and she starts biting her lip and she looks away from him. “I guess I could, well, I mean, I could leave, I don’t want to leave but if it would solve the problem…Or we could leave together, go somewhere new, a fresh start…” Ruby pauses, then looks to Jake and their eyes meet, ‘But after we set all this up, with owning the Lone Star, and there are our friends, and you have the silver mine …” Ruby's voice trails off and the confusion is plain on her face. </p><p></p><p>"First off, don't you go to Adair thinking you can make any deal with him. He'll see that as being weak, agree to anything and use it against you." Jake gets up and starts to pace. "Second, if it gets to be time to leave we leave together. However, it isn't time to leave. He had surprise before. He doesn't now. I still think we can handle him. Third....." Jake stops pacing suddenly. "Benefits of being married?" A big smile grows on his face and he chuckles a few times. "I'm sorry girl, but I don't see how the benefits could be any better." </p><p></p><p>“I won’t go to Adair, you’re probably right about him. But Jake, we can’t give him another chance to shoot us like that. Although it sounds like Red thinks he might lay off a direct attack against us for a while. Do you think Van Horne will show back up? That would be a great benefit to us, we could find out what Adair is up to. Do you think he’ll go after any of our friends or the Lone Star?” Ruby still looks worried as she watches Jake pace around the room. “And if we leave we leave together,” Ruby repeats slowly. “I can do that, it’s a good plan.” </p><p></p><p>“So, what next? We start asking around for rumors of all Adair’s employees. I do have Mr. McCoy’s wallet, I think it’s time to look though it again. Maybe I should introduce myself to Miss. Boag? What else?” </p><p></p><p>While Ruby waits for Jake to answer she gives a big stretch, her long legs extending well beyond the edge of the sheet. Ruby starts to grin watching Jake watch her stretch. “There is only one benefit for people who are married and that benefit only comes if the people who are married are serious about it. In my experience there aren’t many people who are serious about it. But the ones that are serious, well, they have something very special and rare. And that is the fact that once that ring is on your finger you never ever have to share that person with anyone ever again and that person never ever has to worry about sharing you.” </p><p></p><p>"Er," Jake says with a slightly bewildered look on his face, "I don't think you'll be hearing me talking about all the happily married folks I know." He looks a bit uncomfortable for a moment but recovers and gives Ruby a half grin, "We will just have to keep each other occupied, and then there won't be time for sharing." He stops next to the bed and runs his finger up and down her exposed leg. </p><p></p><p>Ruby laughs hysterically for a moment and smiles at him again. “JAKE! Relax, you know I was only kidding with you. Happily ever after is only for fairy tales, they don’t happen to people like us. And don’t you be worrying, I don’t ever plan on getting married, ever. But I will agree to the not sharing you part, I told you that already. And the keeping each other occupied part, well, that has been working out mighty well so far.” </p><p></p><p>"Those are all fine ideas regarding Adair. If we can we should get papers that have his or any of his folks handwriting on it. I also want to start tracking his habits. Does he keep a schedule, where does he go and with who?" He goes back to pacing. "I don't know if he'll go after our friends, but probably not. He's not likely to burn down all the alcohol in town by going after the Lone Star. Unfortunately, we don't know how low he'll stoop. Expect the worst when it comes to him." Jake stops and sits again. "Perhaps the best revenge is a successful Lone Star." </p><p></p><p>"Let’s get started then, right away, gathering the information on Adair. Tomorrow.” Ruby bites on her finger for a moment before continuing. “A successful Lone Star, huh? Yeah that would really tick off Adair, wouldn’t it? Well, I was hoping we’d have that anyway. But I guess that’ll be another good benefit. We know what you can do to make the Lone Star more successful. What can I do to make the Lone Star more successful then?” </p><p></p><p>"You are kidding right?" He gently takes Ruby's face in his hand. "You are the face of the place. You bring them in, and keep them coming back. We sell them food and drink, and we take their money at the poker tables. It's Ruby West that makes them feel good about it. You just do what you do best. Keep them entertained and make each one feel special." He returns to lightly running his finger down her leg. </p><p></p><p>Ruby sighs, “I know, I’m the pretty face, the distraction, I know.” She looks away but only briefly before looking back to Jake with a small smile. “I can do that, make them feel special. You’re right, it is what I’m good at. But Jake,” Ruby sits up on her elbows, “You’re the only one who I really want to feel that way. So don’t start believing it’s true about anyone else then, OK? </p><p></p><p>"I'm hoping I can tell the difference between making a customer feel special and making someone feel real special." He gets up flexing his shoulders and arms. He turns rapidly facing the mirror and his Colt flies out of the holster aimed at his reflection. "You know I've never killed a man in jealousy, I wonder what it would be like?" He twirls the gun a few times rather flamboyantly and drops it back in place. He turns back to face Ruby, his face unreadable. </p><p></p><p>Then he laughs loudly. "I trust you." He wanders over to his travel bag and starts taking items out and putting them away or in a pile to be cleaned. "You certainly can be a distraction, but you got it backwards. They can go anywhere for food, drink and poker. If all of those are good, they will probably come back." Jake stops moving the clothes and looks at her. "They will happily open their pockets and wallets to spend time in a saloon where they feel at home. In that little place inside they go away thinking, 'what a great place, she knows my name, knows about me, sings the song I like when I come in and pays attention to me. So maybe I spent the rent money, I'll just have to work a little harder so I can go back.' Ruby West you are the main show, the rest of us are the distraction." He stares at her for a minute before looking away. </p><p></p><p>"I believe I told you about Caleb White, the old coot I met in Chicago? He once said to me," Jake's voice changes in an imitation of old and infirm man, "Silver Dollar, work is fine for killing time, but it's a shaky way to make a living." He snorts a little laugh. "Most of those folks just work hard to get by, then come in to a place like the Lone Star to live." He goes back to sorting clothes. "Why don't you stop me when I get all preachy like that?" He shakes his head and chuckles. </p><p></p><p>Ruby pulls herself out of bed with the sheet wrapped around her and she hops onto the dresser in front of Jake. “I don’t stop you because I like to hear you talk, preaching or not, that’s why. You are a wealth of wisdom and very good for my ego,” she gives him a big smile. “And now you went and got yourself involved in some actual work, Mr. Cook, and all because of me, what ever will you do?” Ruby laughs as she rests her arms on Jake’s shoulders. “We’ll give them some place to really live and we’ll give ourselves someplace to really live too.” She leans forward and gives Jake a slow kiss. She pulls away and looks at him before continuing, “And let’s not find out what it feels like to kill someone in jealousy, eh? We have enough problems,” she chuckles. “Now, what do you have planned for tonight? Besides, NOT killing someone out of jealousy?” </p><p></p><p>"I suppose I should start learning how to run a saloon." He puts his hands over hers on his shoulders. "I'll just pitch in and help with something so Niles and Job don't feel like it's all them. If it's all under control and there are enough folks, I'll run a game. More likely that'll happen on busier nights. Time to build the new Lone Star routine. Oh," he pulls away quickly and searches through the bottom of his bag. He retrieves a handful of items and stretches out his hands cupped together to her. He is holding six small glass containers of perfume. </p><p></p><p>“Yes,” Ruby laughs, “It’s your turn. I did the decision making last week! But it has been a while since you got to run a table.” Ruby watches curiously as Jake goes through his bag. He hands her the perfume and Ruby is genuinely surprised. “You really were thinking of me when you were away, weren’t you?” Ruby gives him a quick kiss and slides off the dresser. She plops down on the bed and opens a bottle to smell the aroma. </p><p></p><p>"Ah, wait, don't bother smelling them." Jake says laughing. "They're not for wearing." Ruby looks at him and scrunches her nose. "They are just cheap perfume bottles, remember I promised to get you some to throw at me. Wouldn't want you to waste your good perfume next time I need things thrown at me." Jake takes a couple of steps over and shrugs. </p><p></p><p>Ruby looks to Jake then back to the bottles, then she laughs. “Very well, Mr. Cook, bottles to throw then. Let’s hope you don’t do too many things that warrant it, but you’ve stocked me up, just in case.” Ruby gets off of bed and puts the bottles on the dresser. </p><p></p><p>Jake walks over and stands next to Ruby. He extends his empty hands, turns them over and turns them back holding a single bottle of perfume. "That trick is more impressive when the audience DOESN'T know how it's done." He opens the bottle, dabs some on his finger and runs his finger behind each of her ears and down her neck. He closes the bottle and places it on the dresser apart from the others. "Try not to confuse them when you are tossing." </p><p></p><p>Ruby looks up at Jake and smiles. “Especially since Mr. Gonzales isn’t here to clean it up.” Ruby stands on her toes and putting her hand behind Jake’s head gives him a kiss. “Thank you,” she whispers, before pulling herself away to get her clothes ready. </p><p></p><p>“Should we eat here tonight?” Ruby says while pulling her stockings up to her thighs. She grabs her underskirt and corset and wriggles them on. “I like the food at the El Parador too, though. I wonder if Sonoma is cooking for us again? And I wonder if Dorita found someone to cook and clean for us permanently?” Ruby glances around the room before grabbing her new cream dress. “Didn’t get to show it off enough,” she giggles throwing it over her head. “Will you help?” She turns her back to Jake and pulls her hair over her shoulder waiting for him to do up the back. </p><p></p><p>He ties up the back nice and slowly, delicately touching her while doing so. "I suppose we ought to find all that out. Let's dine at the Cantina and perhaps we'll see the others." “Good idea. How do I look?” Ruby spins around to face Jake. "Beautiful." “I’m ready then, so let’s go.” She takes him arm and they head out, letting Niles know they will be back shortly.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 2800158, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 170, “Homecoming”, Monday, January 23rd, 1882, 3:00 P.M[/B]. Looking out at the Apache Katherine slid across the seat toward Ginnie, thankful there was no one else on the stage. "Don't worry, this will protect you," Kate said and then began casting the Mage Armor spell, but targeting it on Ginnie. Kate says, "Let's hope they don't attack." Ginnie looks frantically around the coach for the smallest most hidden place she can come up with and tucks herself in covering herself and trying her best to be a very small target shaking with fear Ruby had fallen fast sleep on Jake's shoulder. She felt him move for his gun and it woke her. She looked out the window and saw the Apache. "I don't think we need to worry, there were Apache surrounding Mr. Shaw and myself on the coach ride over but they didn't attack us. I guess they just want to let us know they are around." She looked at Kate and gave her a little nod towards Ginnie, so they wouldn't scare the kid. Kate knelt down next to Ginnie and laid her hand on her shoulder. "Ruby's right, they have no reason to harm us. And I'll take care of you." She began to rub the girls shoulder. "We'll be alright." Ginnie, do you know any songs? I looove to sing," Ruby says while looking out the window then back to the cowering Ginnie, "Now would be a great time to sing a song... But if you get scared, which I know you won't, there should be a spot you can fit." Ruby stands a lifts the seat in the coach, revealing the under seat, large enough for the small girl to fit. "Only if you need it." She sits back down and starts singing quietly, trying to calm the girl down. Chuck Nevers pokes his down from above and tells those inside the coach "Keep your weapons down, we've ridden by these guys three times in the last two days and they haven't stopped us yet. Some of you know that we can get some extra speed from this rig if we have to but I'd rather not let them know that until it comes to needing it." The stage continues onward. The Apache slowly ride closer but stop when they are still thirty feet from the roadway. When they pass from the area everyone gives a collective sigh of relief. The remaining trip back to Promise City is uneventful, arriving on Main Street in front of the Wells Fargo Office at around 5:45 P.M. It actually takes Ginnie until the coach stops to realize that they are not going to be killed by Indians. She thinks that woman with the red hair was nuts thinking that singing would help! It would have just let the Indians know that there were women on the coach and given them a better reason to attack! It seemed very strange for someone else to take care of her and Ginnie wasn't really sure what to do about it. At least here she should have a roof over her head. food and maybe a chance to really learn something. And the Ma'am Katherine was looking for simple lace in return for part of the debt. That was something Ginnie could handle easily but right now she needed to start a new life. It was a relief to be back in Promise City. Kate gathered her things and dragged herself from the coach, then helped Ginnie down. The girl stepped out of the coach and looked around at her new home. Ruby follows Ginnie off the stage and leans over to whisper into her ear saying, “Kid, you don’t know anything about me. But I know that you aren’t as smart as you think you are and that comes from our little meeting that we had the last time I was in Tombstone. I knew you weren’t sleeping last night. But Kate trusts you to know her business and that is her decision.” Ruby raises her eyebrow at Ginnie. “You know that I could have caused a lot of trouble for you, turned you into the law in Tombstone but I didn’t. I know what it’s like to have to take care of yourself and it’s not easy. No one, well, not any of us anyway, is going to take away your chance at learning. As a matter of fact, if you relax a bit, maybe you’ll even learn something from all of us. We can help each other. And you couldn’t have a better teacher than Kate. I always knew that Kate would be a teacher. But remember one thing,” Ruby leans back in her seat, “we will be keeping an eye on you.” Deciding that the lecture had gone on long enough Kate says, "All right Ruby, that's enough.” "Are you going back to the El Parador or to the Lone Star?" Kate asked Ruby. "I'm going back to the Lone Star. I need a real nap in my own bed. Do you need help with anything?" Ruby tried not to look at the kid as she said that. Kate nodded no, so Ruby made her way back to the Lone Star with Jake in tow. As soon as they got in Jake was greeted by Niles and Job, who were preparing for the night. Ruby continued upstairs alone to their room, while Jake made small talk with them. She removed her dress, laid face down in bed and fell asleep. Jake gets the latest news and stories, listening to what's said as well as what isn't. He helps himself to a welcome back drink and has a tour around, checks out the construction and finally locates Jeff Mills. Jake spends some time with him, making him feel good and listening in particular to what has been going on from his point of view. "It's good to be back, and I'm looking forward to tonight." "This is the El Parador Hotel and Cantina Ginnie, I live here. For now anyway. It's a good place until I get a home of my own." Katherine guided the girl inside and found the proprietress. Ginnie, this is Dorita, she's in charge here. Dorita, this is Ginnie, she's going to be staying with me for a while. I wonder, might you have a room with two beds in it I could change to? Or a cot to put in my room if that's not possible?" "Humph!" Dorita quickly sizes up Ginnie as she takes a look at Kate "First you no eat, now you bring home child that no eat! You both sit, eat, then we talk about room and cot and things." Dorita grabs both of Ginnie's hands stroking her thumbs over Ginnie's palms "You work hard already, you eat here, lots, now sit, we talk later, Sit!" with that she pushes Ginnie into a chair at a nearby table and stares down Kate until she follows suit. A few minutes later Dorita brought two loaded plates and set them down at the table. "It isn't as if I haven't been feeding her, Dorita. But it takes more than two meals you know." Kate looked in dismay at the plate in front of her. Dorita's food was always good, but she could never tackle that plate. Ruby had been right though, she was getting thin; she couldn't even get her corset tight enough anymore. The laces were pulled as tight as they would go and it was still loose. She at least picked up her fork instead of pushing the plate away. Ginnie sat down to her forth full meal in less than two days. she'd have eaten more than she normally had in a full week when she finished this overfull plate. This place that Ma'am Katherine stayed was nothing like she would have expected there were elves everywhere and none of them seemed angry or mean like the few elves she had met before. And Ma'am Katherine seemed to treat them like equals she even did as she was told by the woman from the kitchen Dorita but then again Ginnie didn't think anyone was likely to disobey that lady the price wouldn't be worth it. Ginnie was about to pick up her fork when she realized that she hadn't washed her hands and there was no way that she would ever break her promise to mama. Ginnie says, "Excuse me but is there a place I can wash up before dinner?" Dorita took a second look at the child and pointed the way to the well in the back of the kitchen. Doirta tells Kate "Well she may no eat as much as she should but she have good manors now Kate you EAT no push food around put in mouth!" Kate managed to eat perhaps a quarter of the food before her stomach seriously threatened to rebel. Ginnie attacked the plate with gusto when she returned and bolted it down quicker than Kate would have thought possible. When Ginnie reached the bottom of the plate Dorita came around again. "Well Dorita, what do you think? Is there a room with two beds I could rent? Oh, and is your Grandfather back yet?" Dorita replies, “No two bed rooms at moment, Pedro already move cot into your room. Grandfather no back yet." Kate was worried for a moment until she realized that Mr. Gonzales probably had not moved Maggie by magic. The trip to Los Angeles and then staying for a few days to make sure she was settled would account for his absence. "Thank you, Dorita. Why don't we go up to my room and get you settled Ginnie? I have some very interesting books you can read for a while, I'd like to get some more sleep." The two went up to Kate's room, and Kate showed Ginnie where she could put her things. "I'll introduce you to the others here later. I'm not going to work for the next few days, so we can work out when to work and when to study later on tonight. If you get hungry, you can go downstairs and ask Dorita. She'll put it on my bill. Will you be alright doing that?" The girl nods yes. Kate lies down for a nap. After he finishes talking with Jeff Mills, Jake grabs his bag and heads upstairs. He opens the door to their room and stands on the threshold for a minute shaking his head. The noise of opening the door wakes Ruby who rubs her eyes and says, "I was tired, I hadn't been sleeping well while you were gone." "No, I'm not shaking my head at you. It's me. I own a quarter of a damn saloon and I have my own room to go to where I don't have to pay rent." Jake whistles. "Who could have predicted that?" He closes the door and throws his bag on the floor before sitting down on the bed next to Ruby. "Who in Hades could have predicted that?" He laughs well naturedly. Ruby slowly turns herself over, and Jake can tell she is still sleepy. “Who could have predicted any of this? Not me, not ever. But it’s ours, and it’s real, unless we are stuck in a dream. If that’s true, I don’t want to wake up.” She smiles and grabs the sheet, pulling it over herself. “So, are you going to tell me what happened in Tucson? Or is it a big secret?” "Mostly I just used the time to catch up with O'Brien. Don't ever mention his name though, or tell anyone that Mr. Van Horne is a disguise. He's wanted for murder. Do you remember what I told you about the last time I saw him before Promise City? Apparently I killed the guy that tried to kill him. Now he's wanted for murder. Oh, and I did sell some of the jewelry." Jake rubs his beard. "We did talk about Adair." He tells her all O'Brien told him; the honest gambling, his travels and education, the killings of men and lovers, his being ambidextrous, not drinking alcohol, that O'Brien thought his staff was loyal, about Deacon Prosper McCoy and his wife, and finally about Jane "Little Britches" Boag. "Ruby dear, that loco wants to kill you just because you slapped him. Since he believes Baxter's rubbish, he wanted to kill your husband too." Ruby is visibly upset to find out that Jake was shot at because Adair thinks they are married. “I’m really sorry I got you involved in this. That Adair is one crazy and evil man. I think I have to go and speak with him again, I don’t want you getting killed because of me, and I couldn’t bear it if that was what happened. Besides, if you were going to get killed for me you should at least actually be getting the benefit of being married to me, no?” Ruby laughs for a bit then drifts off into her thoughts. Jake sees her expression change, and she starts biting her lip and she looks away from him. “I guess I could, well, I mean, I could leave, I don’t want to leave but if it would solve the problem…Or we could leave together, go somewhere new, a fresh start…” Ruby pauses, then looks to Jake and their eyes meet, ‘But after we set all this up, with owning the Lone Star, and there are our friends, and you have the silver mine …” Ruby's voice trails off and the confusion is plain on her face. "First off, don't you go to Adair thinking you can make any deal with him. He'll see that as being weak, agree to anything and use it against you." Jake gets up and starts to pace. "Second, if it gets to be time to leave we leave together. However, it isn't time to leave. He had surprise before. He doesn't now. I still think we can handle him. Third....." Jake stops pacing suddenly. "Benefits of being married?" A big smile grows on his face and he chuckles a few times. "I'm sorry girl, but I don't see how the benefits could be any better." “I won’t go to Adair, you’re probably right about him. But Jake, we can’t give him another chance to shoot us like that. Although it sounds like Red thinks he might lay off a direct attack against us for a while. Do you think Van Horne will show back up? That would be a great benefit to us, we could find out what Adair is up to. Do you think he’ll go after any of our friends or the Lone Star?” Ruby still looks worried as she watches Jake pace around the room. “And if we leave we leave together,” Ruby repeats slowly. “I can do that, it’s a good plan.” “So, what next? We start asking around for rumors of all Adair’s employees. I do have Mr. McCoy’s wallet, I think it’s time to look though it again. Maybe I should introduce myself to Miss. Boag? What else?” While Ruby waits for Jake to answer she gives a big stretch, her long legs extending well beyond the edge of the sheet. Ruby starts to grin watching Jake watch her stretch. “There is only one benefit for people who are married and that benefit only comes if the people who are married are serious about it. In my experience there aren’t many people who are serious about it. But the ones that are serious, well, they have something very special and rare. And that is the fact that once that ring is on your finger you never ever have to share that person with anyone ever again and that person never ever has to worry about sharing you.” "Er," Jake says with a slightly bewildered look on his face, "I don't think you'll be hearing me talking about all the happily married folks I know." He looks a bit uncomfortable for a moment but recovers and gives Ruby a half grin, "We will just have to keep each other occupied, and then there won't be time for sharing." He stops next to the bed and runs his finger up and down her exposed leg. Ruby laughs hysterically for a moment and smiles at him again. “JAKE! Relax, you know I was only kidding with you. Happily ever after is only for fairy tales, they don’t happen to people like us. And don’t you be worrying, I don’t ever plan on getting married, ever. But I will agree to the not sharing you part, I told you that already. And the keeping each other occupied part, well, that has been working out mighty well so far.” "Those are all fine ideas regarding Adair. If we can we should get papers that have his or any of his folks handwriting on it. I also want to start tracking his habits. Does he keep a schedule, where does he go and with who?" He goes back to pacing. "I don't know if he'll go after our friends, but probably not. He's not likely to burn down all the alcohol in town by going after the Lone Star. Unfortunately, we don't know how low he'll stoop. Expect the worst when it comes to him." Jake stops and sits again. "Perhaps the best revenge is a successful Lone Star." "Let’s get started then, right away, gathering the information on Adair. Tomorrow.” Ruby bites on her finger for a moment before continuing. “A successful Lone Star, huh? Yeah that would really tick off Adair, wouldn’t it? Well, I was hoping we’d have that anyway. But I guess that’ll be another good benefit. We know what you can do to make the Lone Star more successful. What can I do to make the Lone Star more successful then?” "You are kidding right?" He gently takes Ruby's face in his hand. "You are the face of the place. You bring them in, and keep them coming back. We sell them food and drink, and we take their money at the poker tables. It's Ruby West that makes them feel good about it. You just do what you do best. Keep them entertained and make each one feel special." He returns to lightly running his finger down her leg. Ruby sighs, “I know, I’m the pretty face, the distraction, I know.” She looks away but only briefly before looking back to Jake with a small smile. “I can do that, make them feel special. You’re right, it is what I’m good at. But Jake,” Ruby sits up on her elbows, “You’re the only one who I really want to feel that way. So don’t start believing it’s true about anyone else then, OK? "I'm hoping I can tell the difference between making a customer feel special and making someone feel real special." He gets up flexing his shoulders and arms. He turns rapidly facing the mirror and his Colt flies out of the holster aimed at his reflection. "You know I've never killed a man in jealousy, I wonder what it would be like?" He twirls the gun a few times rather flamboyantly and drops it back in place. He turns back to face Ruby, his face unreadable. Then he laughs loudly. "I trust you." He wanders over to his travel bag and starts taking items out and putting them away or in a pile to be cleaned. "You certainly can be a distraction, but you got it backwards. They can go anywhere for food, drink and poker. If all of those are good, they will probably come back." Jake stops moving the clothes and looks at her. "They will happily open their pockets and wallets to spend time in a saloon where they feel at home. In that little place inside they go away thinking, 'what a great place, she knows my name, knows about me, sings the song I like when I come in and pays attention to me. So maybe I spent the rent money, I'll just have to work a little harder so I can go back.' Ruby West you are the main show, the rest of us are the distraction." He stares at her for a minute before looking away. "I believe I told you about Caleb White, the old coot I met in Chicago? He once said to me," Jake's voice changes in an imitation of old and infirm man, "Silver Dollar, work is fine for killing time, but it's a shaky way to make a living." He snorts a little laugh. "Most of those folks just work hard to get by, then come in to a place like the Lone Star to live." He goes back to sorting clothes. "Why don't you stop me when I get all preachy like that?" He shakes his head and chuckles. Ruby pulls herself out of bed with the sheet wrapped around her and she hops onto the dresser in front of Jake. “I don’t stop you because I like to hear you talk, preaching or not, that’s why. You are a wealth of wisdom and very good for my ego,” she gives him a big smile. “And now you went and got yourself involved in some actual work, Mr. Cook, and all because of me, what ever will you do?” Ruby laughs as she rests her arms on Jake’s shoulders. “We’ll give them some place to really live and we’ll give ourselves someplace to really live too.” She leans forward and gives Jake a slow kiss. She pulls away and looks at him before continuing, “And let’s not find out what it feels like to kill someone in jealousy, eh? We have enough problems,” she chuckles. “Now, what do you have planned for tonight? Besides, NOT killing someone out of jealousy?” "I suppose I should start learning how to run a saloon." He puts his hands over hers on his shoulders. "I'll just pitch in and help with something so Niles and Job don't feel like it's all them. If it's all under control and there are enough folks, I'll run a game. More likely that'll happen on busier nights. Time to build the new Lone Star routine. Oh," he pulls away quickly and searches through the bottom of his bag. He retrieves a handful of items and stretches out his hands cupped together to her. He is holding six small glass containers of perfume. “Yes,” Ruby laughs, “It’s your turn. I did the decision making last week! But it has been a while since you got to run a table.” Ruby watches curiously as Jake goes through his bag. He hands her the perfume and Ruby is genuinely surprised. “You really were thinking of me when you were away, weren’t you?” Ruby gives him a quick kiss and slides off the dresser. She plops down on the bed and opens a bottle to smell the aroma. "Ah, wait, don't bother smelling them." Jake says laughing. "They're not for wearing." Ruby looks at him and scrunches her nose. "They are just cheap perfume bottles, remember I promised to get you some to throw at me. Wouldn't want you to waste your good perfume next time I need things thrown at me." Jake takes a couple of steps over and shrugs. Ruby looks to Jake then back to the bottles, then she laughs. “Very well, Mr. Cook, bottles to throw then. Let’s hope you don’t do too many things that warrant it, but you’ve stocked me up, just in case.” Ruby gets off of bed and puts the bottles on the dresser. Jake walks over and stands next to Ruby. He extends his empty hands, turns them over and turns them back holding a single bottle of perfume. "That trick is more impressive when the audience DOESN'T know how it's done." He opens the bottle, dabs some on his finger and runs his finger behind each of her ears and down her neck. He closes the bottle and places it on the dresser apart from the others. "Try not to confuse them when you are tossing." Ruby looks up at Jake and smiles. “Especially since Mr. Gonzales isn’t here to clean it up.” Ruby stands on her toes and putting her hand behind Jake’s head gives him a kiss. “Thank you,” she whispers, before pulling herself away to get her clothes ready. “Should we eat here tonight?” Ruby says while pulling her stockings up to her thighs. She grabs her underskirt and corset and wriggles them on. “I like the food at the El Parador too, though. I wonder if Sonoma is cooking for us again? And I wonder if Dorita found someone to cook and clean for us permanently?” Ruby glances around the room before grabbing her new cream dress. “Didn’t get to show it off enough,” she giggles throwing it over her head. “Will you help?” She turns her back to Jake and pulls her hair over her shoulder waiting for him to do up the back. He ties up the back nice and slowly, delicately touching her while doing so. "I suppose we ought to find all that out. Let's dine at the Cantina and perhaps we'll see the others." “Good idea. How do I look?” Ruby spins around to face Jake. "Beautiful." “I’m ready then, so let’s go.” She takes him arm and they head out, letting Niles know they will be back shortly. [/QUOTE]
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