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"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: 2807792" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 172, “Good Day for a Hanging”, Monday, January 23rd, 1882, 9:30 P.M.</strong></p><p></p><p>Kate only slept for an hour and a half. It was already late, and if she slept longer she wouldn't sleep tonight. Ginnie was settled on her cot with a book. She sat up comfortably on the bed. "I'm sorry to have left you to entertain yourself, but I do feel better now. Well, what do you think of the El Parador?"</p><p></p><p>She replies, “It is a very strange place with all the wood elves and such. The food is really good and the woman who runs the place seems nice but I don't think I would want to make her mad she reminds me a lot of my mama.” </p><p></p><p>Kate replies, "No one wants to make Dorita mad, dear. The elves who live here are in some ways just like everyone else, they want to live in peace. They don't give trouble, and try to avoid it coming to them. I like it here. Dorita and Pedro make their tenants their family. You'll learn that soon enough.” </p><p></p><p>The girl pauses and looks direction at Kate then says, “Ma'am, I've about half way thorough the book you gave me to read, "The Fifth Reader". I really like the pieces by Hans Christian Anderson and the fact that one of the writers was a woman Louisa May Alcott, I'm not too sure about this Mr. Cooper piece though I may need to read it again before I decide.” </p><p></p><p>Kate exclaims, “You're halfway through that book already? Tomorrow we'll have to sit down and find out how advanced you are in your reading and other skills. There's no use in us going over things you've already mastered. Now, what bothers you about the Cooper piece?" Kate encouraged Ginnie to put into words what she didn't like about the piece and discussed it with her. Then she asked her to tell about the other things she read, nothing how well she remembered and what comments she made, trying to gauge just how quickly this young student would outstrip her.</p><p></p><p>"You really want to know what I think? For real?" when Kate nods her head Ginnie starts to talk quickly, her hands waving as she speaks. "Well I found his use of a pocket handkerchief as the main narrator in the story unusual, however the form worked quite well for the story itself. The use of an inanimate object as the focus mainly allows for the author to provide the reader with the mindset and an observation involved and at the same time separate from the other characters in the story. His portrayal of most of the woman in the story however is focused on character weakness and limits their strengths providing them with a shallowness that doesn't allow for complete depth of individuality or complexity of development." </p><p></p><p>When she stops she looks at Kate and says "so what did you think of the story" and tilts her head to listen. Kate answers, "The portrayal of women is shallow. Considering the handkerchief was almost always in the possession of women, one would think it would have a greater insight into their strengths as well as their weaknesses. However, it is sad but true that many 'well bred' young ladies do not display a great deal of depth. I grew up in that world and I have seen it. Most girls are taught from early age to think less, not more. I was fortunate to not be one of them. </p><p></p><p>The use of the pocket-handkerchief also allows the reader to go into places in the story that choosing a character as a narrator would not allow. Had we followed say, Adrienne the whole story, we would have followed her travels across the Atlantic, her acquisition of employment, and so on, thereby robbing the story of much of the emotion of it's climax."</p><p></p><p>Ginnie states, “Another thing that bothered me about his story is the fact that he depended so much on detail and yet got so many things wrong when describing things. You harvest the best flax before it blooms otherwise the flowering itself weakens the stalk not allowing the threads to be as long. Retting in running water makes it so that the area doesn't smell as bad but it takes much longer to remove the unwanted material and the threads weaken because of the time spent in the moving water causing the strands to become brittle and tangle. And without breaking it on the hackle you can't get a fine enough thread for the type of linen he writes about. </p><p></p><p>If your going to base your story's main character on an item and make a large part of it the construction depend on the details then you really do need to make sure that they are right. Mama would never have allowed any of us to use flax prepared in that manor for our lace there would be to many joins and the outer casing would have created a very rough material. I did like the idea that the pocket handkerchief increases so greatly in value as its workmanship is recognized but it isn't very realistic.” </p><p></p><p>Kate answers, "Yes, when an author doesn't do their research it undercuts his credibility for the entire piece if the reader happens to be knowledgeable about the subject. The most important thing about education is not memorization, it's learning to think. It's discovering how to take in the information the world gives you, process it and see how it interacts with everything else you know, and applying it so you understand how the world around you works. In things like math and science there is a great deal of memorization and detail work, but it boils down to the same thing. You're going to do very well." They then both go to sleep.</p><p></p><p>Jake and Ruby are awakened on Tuesday morning by the sound of construction noises. Jake checks his recently won silver plated pocket watch and sees that it is only 7:00 AM. Jeff Mills won't be starting on the 3rd floor for another hour or two. He then notices that the sounds are coming from outside, a few blocks further west down Main Street. Ruby rolls over and smushes her face into Jake's chest. Moaning she whines, "What iiissss that??"</p><p></p><p>Jake rolls over too quickly and fall out of bed with a loud thump, followed by soft cussing. He pulls on his pants and stumbles to the window to look out. Jake sees a crowd of around a dozen people gathered around near the Wells Fargo corral two blocks west. He can't see what it is that they are working on.</p><p></p><p>Jake opens the window and sticks his head out for a better view, but gets nothing but cold air for his trouble. He pulls his head back in bumping it on the way and falls on the floor cussing again. "Mornings be damned!" He drags himself up and closes the window. "I can't see. What's next to the Wells Fargo corral?" Ruby rolls over onto her belly and hangs her arm off the bed. "The harness shop and the lot for the future schoolhouse. Across from that hardware shop and funeral parlor, I think. Come back to bed, it's too early." </p><p></p><p>"Hermes! I hope it's not the funeral parlor that needs enlarging." Jake states as he stumbles back to bed. Ruby giggles as Jake gets back in bed. She puts her hands on his face, "You are so clever Mr. Cook," and she kisses him. Jake and Ruby spend the next hour in bed but cannot get to sleep with the constant hammering. Just as they finally give in, and get up and dressed it ends. "Figures." Jake mutters. "Well I'm going to see anyway. You coming?" She answers, "Course. Then we eat." </p><p></p><p>They make their way downstairs and outside. They walk casually down that way. They get to the Wells Fargo corral and see that over on the municipal lot where the schoolhouse will someday be built a newly constructed gallows now stands. The workmen who just put it up are sitting on the edge of it sharing a pitcher of lemonade. Half a dozen people are standing around and two are seated in chairs facing the structure. Another man is checking ropes.</p><p></p><p>Ruby comments, "It must be time for Mrs. Yeats and Pinto Joe to pay for trying to kill you. But it may be wise to not stay around here and see if Deadeye or Shotgun Sally shows up." He replies, "You really think they got the rope sentence 'cause Silver Jake Cook got shot? More like they just picked the wrong judge for a bank robbery. I don't think Isby would have cared a wit if I got shot." Jake turns walks to one of the folks sitting in the chairs. "Is this bit of work for Mrs. Yeats and the Weems guy?"</p><p></p><p>The older man in one of the chairs says "A'yup. An Arizona Ranger rode into town last night with the news that the Governor rejected their appeal. Marshall Earp and Deputy Sheriff Hunter both want to get this over with as soon as possible. At high noon they both of them robbers drop."</p><p></p><p>Ruby shivers and rubs her neck. "I guess it serves them right, for getting caught. And no, I didn't think they were getting hanged for shooting you but they deserve it anyway. Do you want to be here?" No." Jake says loud enough for the others to hear. "They can do justice without me. I don't need the entertainment." Ruby could tell he was lying. </p><p></p><p>As they walk back. "Look around. If you were going to rescue them how would you do it? Would you wait for them to be on the platform with all the folks around? Or would you grab them as they walk out of jail. Or break in maybe ten minutes before the extra security gets there?" He stops and grabs her arm. "The question is are we safer if we stay out of it, or keep them from getting away. Could be nothing more happens today than a couple of outlaws get their necks stretched. I just don't know. Let's eat and think."</p><p></p><p>Ruby looks at Jake very seriously. "Do you think they have any reason to come after you? I refuse to let you get hurt today." "Today?" Jake says equally seriously. "No, they have no reason to come after me. If Pinto Joe gets away, well, I shot him and got him in this spot. And if he hangs, then Sally probably is not going to send me a birthday card." He starts walking again and taking Ruby with him. "Best thing that could happen is we stay inside and drink, Sally tries to rescue him, Wyatt shoots her, and Weems still drops." Jake laughs. "I wouldn't bet on that though. Let's eat at the Cantina. Maybe we'll see Katherine."</p><p></p><p>"Alright Jake." Ruby takes his hand tightly in hers and has a worried look on her face. They get to the Cantina and get a table. "You know, we might give everyone heart attacks by being up so early."</p><p></p><p>"Have you planned a grand opening, or re-opening, or under new management kind of thing for our saloon?" Jake asks while waiting for some food. Ruby is distracted from her worry by Jake comment and she laughs. "I guess I am the social director, right? I haven't yet but we should wait until the construction is done, obviously. Oh, a big party..." Ruby starts drifting off into her thoughts. </p><p></p><p>They get some food from Dorita and Ruby eats with enthusiasm. "What do you think?" Jake says. "Should we stay far away? Or should we get armed and watch from a distance, just in case we want to help out?" The look of worry immediately comes back on Ruby's face and she stops eating. "Well, they haven't asked us to help out. What happens if we do? Do we get in trouble for doing that?" </p><p></p><p>Ruby sighs. "I guess we'd better take care of this problem now instead of worrying about it for the future." "Um, well, maybe we do get in trouble for shooting them. I don't know what to do." Jake scratches his chin. Then he stops, gets a far away look and starts to smile. "I know that look. What is it?" Ruby says and takes a deep breath. </p><p></p><p>"Why don't we arm up and go see Warren. I can ask him about the serial numbers and you can hear what he thinks about it." Jake winks. "Then we can get a look at what the defenses are. Maybe we'll feel better if there are a lot of guns on the lawmen's side." "Ok, let's go do that," Ruby says hesitantly. She pushes her plate away and waits for Jake to finish. They go back to their room at the El Parador and pick up some weapons.</p><p></p><p>They head over to the Marshall's Office and Warren Earp is indeed the one on duty at the moment. But what surprises Ruby and Jake are the empty jail cells. Jake says, “Hi Warren. I'm a novice at this, but don't you need prisoners to have a hanging?" </p><p></p><p>The Deputy Marshall replies, "Hello Mr. Cook. Wyatt and I moved them over to the jail at the Deputy Sheriff's Office at dawn. That way when the time comes they only have to walk a block to the gallows rather than three blocks. We don't want to take any chances since Joe's girl Sally told him she'd be coming back for him."</p><p></p><p>Ruby nods. "That's a good idea. So you are expecting trouble then? I'm sure you have security well under control?" Warren says, "Hunter should. It's his responsibility. We work for the town not the County or Territory. We'll show up to watch the hanging and make sure that there's no trouble in town but it's his show now."</p><p></p><p>"Ruby, could you excuse us for a quick moment?" Jake smiles and motions out the door. He waits until she is outside and gives her a moment or two before he resumes speaking to Warren Earp. As soon as Jake asks Ruby to leave she nods and does. She makes her way to the ally and when she is sure no one is looking she casts her spell. She then waits out on the porch, trying to "listen" to what Warren is thinking inside. But the spell doesn't seem to work on him.</p><p></p><p>“So," Jake says quietly and speaking slowly, "were you able to find out anything about those serial numbers I gave you? I'd surely like to know who wanted to stop a bunch of miners and isn't worried about shooting a lawman."</p><p></p><p>He says, "Yeah, we asked in Tombstone about that. Seems a guy came in with $ 700 in assayed silver and wanted to turn it into cash. Was paid in the twenties. Turns out it was Lane Gifford, a prospector and part-time ranch who lived here in Promise City. Nobody's seen him around in over a week in either town.” Jake asks, “Did he have a working claim to have that silver?"</p><p></p><p>Earp replies, "Not that anybody knows of. But he pretty much kept to himself and was gone from town for long stretches, so he might have. Seems to be gone for good now. Packed up his tent and belongings." "Mighty strange, suspicious even. Did he have any friends in town, or business associates?" Jake is picking up the pace of the discussion. Earp replies, "Yeah, has one buddy he hung around with a lot. And that man has a noontime appointment with a rope."</p><p></p><p>Jake comments, "I guess that part makes sense. Supposedly Pinto was handing out those bills. Now what, any ideas?" Warren answers, "Not that I can think of. Wyatt and I tried to get him to talk last night after word came in about the appeals being turned down. He wouldn't budge. Still thinks he's going to be rescued by Deadeye and Sally."</p><p></p><p>Jake shakes his head. "Too bad. I guess I'll just stay out of the way then. If something does go bad today I wouldn't want to be caught in the crossfire. And I wouldn't want to be next on the platform cause I was helping out without a badge." Jake shakes his hand. "Good to see you again. Good luck today, gods be watching you." Jake turns to leave.</p><p></p><p>Jake goes out to the porch. "Sorry to keep you waiting Miss West." Takes her arm and escorts her back to the Lone Star. "I hope I asked good questions, trying to get him to think about different things. How'd you do?" She says, "Oh it didn't work for some reason. It's pretty new, and I still need to practice." They return to the Lone Star. </p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, approximately eighty miles to the southwest the Fort Huachuca commander has just ordered his men to ride out with Nanuet, Chester and their friends. Mitzer and Comstock exchange glances but realize that this is the best they can expect from this man so simply thank him. They leave along with their men, Chester and Nanuet to get their horses ready to ride. Comstock whispers to Nanuet "You'd better keep your wolf away on this trip back, those Ogrish troops will smell it at 100 yards and won't hesitate to kill it." </p><p></p><p>Chester says to Nanuet, "That's almost 200 troopers. This isn't good. Putting Gamble in charge only makes it worse. I hope the Apache don't overreact." Elisha Whittemore overhears Chester's comment to Nanuet and whispers "Keep it down. It's his fort, his rules. From what I heard there are at least fifty Apache in full war paint stalking the road between Tombstone and Promise City. If I were in this Captain's shoes I'd probably do the same thing. At least he's willing to consider an alternative to war. We need to keep them focused on that."</p><p></p><p>Chester whispers back, "I know, I know. I do remember that much. Just frustrated, that's all." Nanuet, Chester and the others get ready to go. Chester estimates that half the fortress is going with them. The group getting ready to depart is a little smaller than his estimate of 200, with 110 humans and 65 of ogrish blood. Only two are Sergeants, one of each race, with the only officer going along being Lieutenant Gamble. </p><p></p><p>The horses and ogremounts are all ready to go, with a rifle in each horse's saddlebag and a revolver in each saddle holster. Chester surveys the gathered host. He thinks to himself, “Well, the Indians won't have any problems finding us. I hope both sides talk first. Otherwise this whole area will be a lot more exciting.”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 2807792, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 172, “Good Day for a Hanging”, Monday, January 23rd, 1882, 9:30 P.M.[/B] Kate only slept for an hour and a half. It was already late, and if she slept longer she wouldn't sleep tonight. Ginnie was settled on her cot with a book. She sat up comfortably on the bed. "I'm sorry to have left you to entertain yourself, but I do feel better now. Well, what do you think of the El Parador?" She replies, “It is a very strange place with all the wood elves and such. The food is really good and the woman who runs the place seems nice but I don't think I would want to make her mad she reminds me a lot of my mama.” Kate replies, "No one wants to make Dorita mad, dear. The elves who live here are in some ways just like everyone else, they want to live in peace. They don't give trouble, and try to avoid it coming to them. I like it here. Dorita and Pedro make their tenants their family. You'll learn that soon enough.” The girl pauses and looks direction at Kate then says, “Ma'am, I've about half way thorough the book you gave me to read, "The Fifth Reader". I really like the pieces by Hans Christian Anderson and the fact that one of the writers was a woman Louisa May Alcott, I'm not too sure about this Mr. Cooper piece though I may need to read it again before I decide.” Kate exclaims, “You're halfway through that book already? Tomorrow we'll have to sit down and find out how advanced you are in your reading and other skills. There's no use in us going over things you've already mastered. Now, what bothers you about the Cooper piece?" Kate encouraged Ginnie to put into words what she didn't like about the piece and discussed it with her. Then she asked her to tell about the other things she read, nothing how well she remembered and what comments she made, trying to gauge just how quickly this young student would outstrip her. "You really want to know what I think? For real?" when Kate nods her head Ginnie starts to talk quickly, her hands waving as she speaks. "Well I found his use of a pocket handkerchief as the main narrator in the story unusual, however the form worked quite well for the story itself. The use of an inanimate object as the focus mainly allows for the author to provide the reader with the mindset and an observation involved and at the same time separate from the other characters in the story. His portrayal of most of the woman in the story however is focused on character weakness and limits their strengths providing them with a shallowness that doesn't allow for complete depth of individuality or complexity of development." When she stops she looks at Kate and says "so what did you think of the story" and tilts her head to listen. Kate answers, "The portrayal of women is shallow. Considering the handkerchief was almost always in the possession of women, one would think it would have a greater insight into their strengths as well as their weaknesses. However, it is sad but true that many 'well bred' young ladies do not display a great deal of depth. I grew up in that world and I have seen it. Most girls are taught from early age to think less, not more. I was fortunate to not be one of them. The use of the pocket-handkerchief also allows the reader to go into places in the story that choosing a character as a narrator would not allow. Had we followed say, Adrienne the whole story, we would have followed her travels across the Atlantic, her acquisition of employment, and so on, thereby robbing the story of much of the emotion of it's climax." Ginnie states, “Another thing that bothered me about his story is the fact that he depended so much on detail and yet got so many things wrong when describing things. You harvest the best flax before it blooms otherwise the flowering itself weakens the stalk not allowing the threads to be as long. Retting in running water makes it so that the area doesn't smell as bad but it takes much longer to remove the unwanted material and the threads weaken because of the time spent in the moving water causing the strands to become brittle and tangle. And without breaking it on the hackle you can't get a fine enough thread for the type of linen he writes about. If your going to base your story's main character on an item and make a large part of it the construction depend on the details then you really do need to make sure that they are right. Mama would never have allowed any of us to use flax prepared in that manor for our lace there would be to many joins and the outer casing would have created a very rough material. I did like the idea that the pocket handkerchief increases so greatly in value as its workmanship is recognized but it isn't very realistic.” Kate answers, "Yes, when an author doesn't do their research it undercuts his credibility for the entire piece if the reader happens to be knowledgeable about the subject. The most important thing about education is not memorization, it's learning to think. It's discovering how to take in the information the world gives you, process it and see how it interacts with everything else you know, and applying it so you understand how the world around you works. In things like math and science there is a great deal of memorization and detail work, but it boils down to the same thing. You're going to do very well." They then both go to sleep. Jake and Ruby are awakened on Tuesday morning by the sound of construction noises. Jake checks his recently won silver plated pocket watch and sees that it is only 7:00 AM. Jeff Mills won't be starting on the 3rd floor for another hour or two. He then notices that the sounds are coming from outside, a few blocks further west down Main Street. Ruby rolls over and smushes her face into Jake's chest. Moaning she whines, "What iiissss that??" Jake rolls over too quickly and fall out of bed with a loud thump, followed by soft cussing. He pulls on his pants and stumbles to the window to look out. Jake sees a crowd of around a dozen people gathered around near the Wells Fargo corral two blocks west. He can't see what it is that they are working on. Jake opens the window and sticks his head out for a better view, but gets nothing but cold air for his trouble. He pulls his head back in bumping it on the way and falls on the floor cussing again. "Mornings be damned!" He drags himself up and closes the window. "I can't see. What's next to the Wells Fargo corral?" Ruby rolls over onto her belly and hangs her arm off the bed. "The harness shop and the lot for the future schoolhouse. Across from that hardware shop and funeral parlor, I think. Come back to bed, it's too early." "Hermes! I hope it's not the funeral parlor that needs enlarging." Jake states as he stumbles back to bed. Ruby giggles as Jake gets back in bed. She puts her hands on his face, "You are so clever Mr. Cook," and she kisses him. Jake and Ruby spend the next hour in bed but cannot get to sleep with the constant hammering. Just as they finally give in, and get up and dressed it ends. "Figures." Jake mutters. "Well I'm going to see anyway. You coming?" She answers, "Course. Then we eat." They make their way downstairs and outside. They walk casually down that way. They get to the Wells Fargo corral and see that over on the municipal lot where the schoolhouse will someday be built a newly constructed gallows now stands. The workmen who just put it up are sitting on the edge of it sharing a pitcher of lemonade. Half a dozen people are standing around and two are seated in chairs facing the structure. Another man is checking ropes. Ruby comments, "It must be time for Mrs. Yeats and Pinto Joe to pay for trying to kill you. But it may be wise to not stay around here and see if Deadeye or Shotgun Sally shows up." He replies, "You really think they got the rope sentence 'cause Silver Jake Cook got shot? More like they just picked the wrong judge for a bank robbery. I don't think Isby would have cared a wit if I got shot." Jake turns walks to one of the folks sitting in the chairs. "Is this bit of work for Mrs. Yeats and the Weems guy?" The older man in one of the chairs says "A'yup. An Arizona Ranger rode into town last night with the news that the Governor rejected their appeal. Marshall Earp and Deputy Sheriff Hunter both want to get this over with as soon as possible. At high noon they both of them robbers drop." Ruby shivers and rubs her neck. "I guess it serves them right, for getting caught. And no, I didn't think they were getting hanged for shooting you but they deserve it anyway. Do you want to be here?" No." Jake says loud enough for the others to hear. "They can do justice without me. I don't need the entertainment." Ruby could tell he was lying. As they walk back. "Look around. If you were going to rescue them how would you do it? Would you wait for them to be on the platform with all the folks around? Or would you grab them as they walk out of jail. Or break in maybe ten minutes before the extra security gets there?" He stops and grabs her arm. "The question is are we safer if we stay out of it, or keep them from getting away. Could be nothing more happens today than a couple of outlaws get their necks stretched. I just don't know. Let's eat and think." Ruby looks at Jake very seriously. "Do you think they have any reason to come after you? I refuse to let you get hurt today." "Today?" Jake says equally seriously. "No, they have no reason to come after me. If Pinto Joe gets away, well, I shot him and got him in this spot. And if he hangs, then Sally probably is not going to send me a birthday card." He starts walking again and taking Ruby with him. "Best thing that could happen is we stay inside and drink, Sally tries to rescue him, Wyatt shoots her, and Weems still drops." Jake laughs. "I wouldn't bet on that though. Let's eat at the Cantina. Maybe we'll see Katherine." "Alright Jake." Ruby takes his hand tightly in hers and has a worried look on her face. They get to the Cantina and get a table. "You know, we might give everyone heart attacks by being up so early." "Have you planned a grand opening, or re-opening, or under new management kind of thing for our saloon?" Jake asks while waiting for some food. Ruby is distracted from her worry by Jake comment and she laughs. "I guess I am the social director, right? I haven't yet but we should wait until the construction is done, obviously. Oh, a big party..." Ruby starts drifting off into her thoughts. They get some food from Dorita and Ruby eats with enthusiasm. "What do you think?" Jake says. "Should we stay far away? Or should we get armed and watch from a distance, just in case we want to help out?" The look of worry immediately comes back on Ruby's face and she stops eating. "Well, they haven't asked us to help out. What happens if we do? Do we get in trouble for doing that?" Ruby sighs. "I guess we'd better take care of this problem now instead of worrying about it for the future." "Um, well, maybe we do get in trouble for shooting them. I don't know what to do." Jake scratches his chin. Then he stops, gets a far away look and starts to smile. "I know that look. What is it?" Ruby says and takes a deep breath. "Why don't we arm up and go see Warren. I can ask him about the serial numbers and you can hear what he thinks about it." Jake winks. "Then we can get a look at what the defenses are. Maybe we'll feel better if there are a lot of guns on the lawmen's side." "Ok, let's go do that," Ruby says hesitantly. She pushes her plate away and waits for Jake to finish. They go back to their room at the El Parador and pick up some weapons. They head over to the Marshall's Office and Warren Earp is indeed the one on duty at the moment. But what surprises Ruby and Jake are the empty jail cells. Jake says, “Hi Warren. I'm a novice at this, but don't you need prisoners to have a hanging?" The Deputy Marshall replies, "Hello Mr. Cook. Wyatt and I moved them over to the jail at the Deputy Sheriff's Office at dawn. That way when the time comes they only have to walk a block to the gallows rather than three blocks. We don't want to take any chances since Joe's girl Sally told him she'd be coming back for him." Ruby nods. "That's a good idea. So you are expecting trouble then? I'm sure you have security well under control?" Warren says, "Hunter should. It's his responsibility. We work for the town not the County or Territory. We'll show up to watch the hanging and make sure that there's no trouble in town but it's his show now." "Ruby, could you excuse us for a quick moment?" Jake smiles and motions out the door. He waits until she is outside and gives her a moment or two before he resumes speaking to Warren Earp. As soon as Jake asks Ruby to leave she nods and does. She makes her way to the ally and when she is sure no one is looking she casts her spell. She then waits out on the porch, trying to "listen" to what Warren is thinking inside. But the spell doesn't seem to work on him. “So," Jake says quietly and speaking slowly, "were you able to find out anything about those serial numbers I gave you? I'd surely like to know who wanted to stop a bunch of miners and isn't worried about shooting a lawman." He says, "Yeah, we asked in Tombstone about that. Seems a guy came in with $ 700 in assayed silver and wanted to turn it into cash. Was paid in the twenties. Turns out it was Lane Gifford, a prospector and part-time ranch who lived here in Promise City. Nobody's seen him around in over a week in either town.” Jake asks, “Did he have a working claim to have that silver?" Earp replies, "Not that anybody knows of. But he pretty much kept to himself and was gone from town for long stretches, so he might have. Seems to be gone for good now. Packed up his tent and belongings." "Mighty strange, suspicious even. Did he have any friends in town, or business associates?" Jake is picking up the pace of the discussion. Earp replies, "Yeah, has one buddy he hung around with a lot. And that man has a noontime appointment with a rope." Jake comments, "I guess that part makes sense. Supposedly Pinto was handing out those bills. Now what, any ideas?" Warren answers, "Not that I can think of. Wyatt and I tried to get him to talk last night after word came in about the appeals being turned down. He wouldn't budge. Still thinks he's going to be rescued by Deadeye and Sally." Jake shakes his head. "Too bad. I guess I'll just stay out of the way then. If something does go bad today I wouldn't want to be caught in the crossfire. And I wouldn't want to be next on the platform cause I was helping out without a badge." Jake shakes his hand. "Good to see you again. Good luck today, gods be watching you." Jake turns to leave. Jake goes out to the porch. "Sorry to keep you waiting Miss West." Takes her arm and escorts her back to the Lone Star. "I hope I asked good questions, trying to get him to think about different things. How'd you do?" She says, "Oh it didn't work for some reason. It's pretty new, and I still need to practice." They return to the Lone Star. Meanwhile, approximately eighty miles to the southwest the Fort Huachuca commander has just ordered his men to ride out with Nanuet, Chester and their friends. Mitzer and Comstock exchange glances but realize that this is the best they can expect from this man so simply thank him. They leave along with their men, Chester and Nanuet to get their horses ready to ride. Comstock whispers to Nanuet "You'd better keep your wolf away on this trip back, those Ogrish troops will smell it at 100 yards and won't hesitate to kill it." Chester says to Nanuet, "That's almost 200 troopers. This isn't good. Putting Gamble in charge only makes it worse. I hope the Apache don't overreact." Elisha Whittemore overhears Chester's comment to Nanuet and whispers "Keep it down. It's his fort, his rules. From what I heard there are at least fifty Apache in full war paint stalking the road between Tombstone and Promise City. If I were in this Captain's shoes I'd probably do the same thing. At least he's willing to consider an alternative to war. We need to keep them focused on that." Chester whispers back, "I know, I know. I do remember that much. Just frustrated, that's all." Nanuet, Chester and the others get ready to go. Chester estimates that half the fortress is going with them. The group getting ready to depart is a little smaller than his estimate of 200, with 110 humans and 65 of ogrish blood. Only two are Sergeants, one of each race, with the only officer going along being Lieutenant Gamble. The horses and ogremounts are all ready to go, with a rifle in each horse's saddlebag and a revolver in each saddle holster. Chester surveys the gathered host. He thinks to himself, “Well, the Indians won't have any problems finding us. I hope both sides talk first. Otherwise this whole area will be a lot more exciting.” [/QUOTE]
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