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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2811864" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 174, “Seeking Messengers”, Tuesday, January 24th, 1882, 8:45 P.M. Jake exclaims, "How've you been Chester?" Then quietly. "I've been meaning to ask you if you have been able to do anything with Jones?"  Chester replies, "Yeah, I had a talk with him. He's still got this idea that the three of us are going to do business. He doesn't know anything about the guys who shot us. I thought he had something to do with them, but now I don't think so. He's starting to get on my nerves, so I'm just going to tell the Condons.""He has that affect on people." Jake says deadpan to Chester. "Look, let me talk to the Condons first. I'll tell them a story about keeping an eye on him but nothing more. Don't tell anybody that he asked me to help rob the bank, OK. Nobody talked to me about robbing a bank, not he, not you telling me about it. Clear?"  Chester replies, "Clear. But, do it soon, before he finds someone else." Jake smiles and goes back to pouring for the next wave of thirsty soldiers.Nanuet leaves the mine head and refastens the boards.  Nanuet thinks hard about who he could send to the other mountains. He makes is way back to town and finds himself at Cornflower's home. He knocks on the door and waits for them to answer. He then quickly explains the situation and asks them, since they are friends with Kajika if they will go and deliver the message to Geronimo.Jeremiah Peck has reservations about venturing off into the Apache territory at night. His main concern is for Cornflower rather than himself. She is Navajo, and while Kajika would know her Geronimo would not. He is also worried about the soldiers, to them an Indian is an Indian. Cornflower says "We will do this for you but my husband is correct. I do not wish to put his life at risk and he will not let me go without him. Is there anyone else who could accompany us for added protection?""I understand your reservations about going. I will find someone else." Nanuet wanders away not wanting to put them at unnecessary risk. He has no idea who would be willing to go that would be safe among the Apache. He knows time is running out, but other than himself going, which is out of the question if he is retain any amount of credibility with the soldiers, he does not know who he would send. His feet automatically bring him to the Lone Star and he heads inside.Ruby sees Nanuet walk into the Lone Star. Knowing he doesn't normally feel comfortable in saloons she guesses there is a reason. She squeezes her way through the soldiers and over to him. "Good evening Nanuet. Care for a drink?" Nanuet nods. "Come to the bar, I'll get you something." Nanuet has a seat at the bar while Ruby goes behind the bar and stands next to Jake. She pours him a whiskey and hands it to him. "So, what's up?" she says smiling.Nanuet downs the whiskey in one gulp, but puts his hand over the glass to indicate that he doesn't want another one. He explains the situation to Ruby, emphasizing that he must get a message to Geronimo before 10:00 but that he doesn't know where the Indian chief is. He explains how Maska is heading to the Dragoon Mountains, but Geronimo could be elsewhere in the Chiricahua Mountains, but that he is unable to deliver the message himself. "Cornflower and her husband had said they would go, but they need protection. What protection can I offer them or anyone else against a thousand angry Apache warriors? I am not willing to send any of my friends into danger, especially after what happened to Storm. I don't know how I can get the message to the Chiricahua Mountains, so I hope they are there in the Dragoon and that Maska can get their in time."Jake states, "Uh, Nanuet, YOU could defend them against 1,000 angry warriors?  Is it the Apache they are worried about? Or is it the soldiers or Cowboy Gang?" Jake takes a deep breath and shakes his head. "This sounds bad. Do you have any token you could give to a messenger that they would recognize and allow passage to Geronimo? Does Cornflower have any idea where to go?" Jake runs his hand over his beard a couple of times. "I owe you, at least a couple of times over. Give me some chance of success and I'll protect them, at least do what I can." Jake's eyes go unfocused as he thinks and continues to speak. "We need to sneak out of town otherwise the soldiers would think we are setting them up for an ambush with the Apache. We also need to know where to tell him to meet so that neither side feels like they are being setup. Do you really have a plan on what to do to keep both sides from killing each other?"Chester drinks just coffee. He sees Nanuet and heads over to sit next to him. "Hey there. Got a plan?"   Nanuet fingers the necklace around his neck. "Well, this could probably get you past the warriors if they recognize it as once belonging to them. They should know that it is Apache made even if they are not familiar with the exact necklace. Cornflower and her husband would be looking for protection from the Apache, she is a Navajo, but is friends with Kajika. The other Apache may not know her. The idea was to tell Geronimo what is going on. Let him know that the soldiers are only looking for the Cowboy gang and that they can discuss peace. He has to realize that even if there are only a few hundred soldiers now that there are many many more and if the soldiers are attacked they will come back and not stop until the Apache are no more. There are messengers that are already telling Geronimo where to meet with the soldiers. Anyone trying to speak with him before the meeting with the soldiers would have to go to him. I am sure the warriors would spot anyone on their lands and after they see the necklace bring them straight to Geronimo. The trick is not being seen by the soldiers like you said. We wouldn't want them to think we are setting them up, that is why I cannot go. But all of this talk is ridiculous because I don't want my friends going. Look what happened to Storm, I can't put you into danger. Getting you out of danger you put yourself into is another thing." A weak laugh escapes Nanuet's lips after that last comment but anyone who knows him can tell that he is very concerned..  Jake says, "So what happens if things go poorly between Geronimo and Gamble?  We are safe here?" Jake says shaking his head. "Are you and Chester keeping Gamble in line? I mean, will you be able to keep him from intentionally making it go awry? We don't have much time. Somebody needs to get Cornflower through, and leave now. And somebody needs to keep Gamble from going crazy. You need to be at the head of the troops but Chester doesn't."The soldiers have now been in town for around an hour. The ogre and half-ogre troops have been busy hauling hay and grain from Drover's Livery over to their mounts and water from Pine Creek. Looking out the front doors, Kate notices that the enterprising Dorita and Pedro, along with most of the other El Parador employees, are busy delivering trays of drinks out to Main Street to the otherwise busy ogrish troops. The ogres are appreciative and tip heavily for the personal service. The human soldiers inside the Lone Star appear to be keeping to their two drink limit, but are taking their time consuming the second drinks. The place has now started to clear out some, a combination of regular customers getting away from the soldiers and soldiers finishing up their second drink and then heading over to either the Palace or Gay Lady for other entertainment. Around a dozen soldiers have stuck around to listen to Ruby and another dozen new soldiers have showed up, so the total number of patrons is now back to what it is on a usual busy night. Kate notices that the soldiers are surprisingly well behaved, with not a one attempting to pinch her.As Kate moved around the room she noticed Ruby, Jake, Chester and Nanuet with their heads close together. As soon as she could, she made her way over to the group. "Is something wrong?" she asked quietly. Nanuet and Jake rapidly filled her in on the situation. She pulled off her apron and folded it neatly. "I'll be ready in just a moment." The three just stared at her. "I promised Geronimo I would assist Nanuet in his duties. If Nanuet can't go, I should. They have met me before, hopefully they will know me. And let's face it, humans don't generally send women when they intend violence."Nanuet replies, "Kate! You think Apache on the warpath care if you are a woman or not? You are not thinking like they think, you are thinking how the white man thinks. And Jake, can I keep Gamble in line? The man has a few hundred soldiers and a lot of firepower. The only thing I think that keeps Gamble in line is that he is a soldier and has orders to follow. I am not a diplomat, I am a scout and a novice shaman. I made a promise to Storm that I would take upon myself her diplomatic duties after she died for my cause. I did not see the need until I found out that Apache are lining the roads with warriors and soldiers are arming themselves for war. Would you be safe here if a war erupted? I doubt it. I don't even know if getting a message to Geronimo would help, is it worth the risk?"Jake replies, "Either we do something about this or consider riding for Tucson." Jake puts his hand on Nanuet’s shoulder. "If we don't help you and it goes bad, you won't be coming home. And we won't have a home. Risks are something you deal with by changing the odds." Jake gives him a grin. "I don't like the idea of Katherine going out there, but she is right. Who else has met Geronimo? And she does have certain, ah, skills. She needs some help though. But it's not me." Katherine looks startled at that.  Jake continues, "I need to go with Nanuet and handle Gamble, or at least try. Fast talking isn't going to help with the Apache, but it might with Gamble." Jake turns to Chester. "What do you think, should you stay with Nanuet and keep antagonizing Gamble or go with Katherine? If you do you can't be seen by any soldiers because then they'd suspect you to be a traitor and ambush." Jake shrugs. "Any other ideas? And be quick about it, whoever is going with Cornflower needs to leave now."Kate emphatically states, "It is worth the risk. Like you said, a war could erupt here and then none of us would be safe. I promised to help you and I'm going to do just that. They know me, I'll be alone... or maybe with one of our gentleman friends for an escort. I know the Apache will be watching, but they haven't been starting anything. The message may not help, but it certainly won't hurt."Nanuet states, "Yes, you are right, we have to take a chance.  Jake, I think you are the best person to handle Gamble, I know he won't listen to Chester or me, and probably not a woman either. Kate, has met Geronimo before and with the necklace hopefully they will bring her to him. I guess it is up to Chester who he wants to go with.  Life around here is never dull for a moment is it?"Jake asks, "If you give up the necklace, you won't be able to cast will you? Do you think with Cornflower and Katherine they'll need it to get through?"  Nanuet replies, “I should be able to cast my own prayers... I just won't be able to use the necklace for healing. I guess honestly I have never tried my prayers without the necklace so I don't know for sure. I am just afraid that if we send them out there and some Apache warriors find them wandering around that they will not be happy to see a white woman, a Navajo woman and her white husband. I just figure the necklace would help them get to Geronimo or at least Kajika.”Jeff Mills has been behind the bar and appeared to be busy mixing drinks and ignoring them, until he comes over and says "I can go with them. I'll help make sure none of the Indians harm them." He then laughs and says, "Besides, Jeremiah Peck is part of my work crew. I couldn't finish the top floor without him."  He then adds, "But I'd have to stay out of sight if the soldiers show up. They hate me worse than they hate Chester."Kate replies, "I'll be careful Nanuet, I promise," she said softly as he handed her the necklace. "Thank you Jeff. I appreciate it. I just need to go get dressed for riding. Why don't you get Cornflower and her husband and meet me at the El Parador. Will you need a horse?"  Jeff says, "You can borrow a horse from me from Dorita. She said that she trusts me after what I did for Sonoma. Actually, you'd better get some for the Pecks to ride too, they had to borrow some last time. I'll meet you over at the Peck cabin. It's on the north side of town, around the middle."Kate says, "I have two horses of my own over at the El Parador, I'll see if Dorita will lend two more. I'll see you soon." Kate looked over the bar at Ruby, then leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I'll be back in a few hours, I promise." Katherine looked at each face in turn, then hurried over to the El Parador. Jake has been watching Ruby during the entire conversation, and she was trying hard not to let him notice she was biting her lip and looking worried. After they all wish Katherine and Jeff good luck he turns back to Ruby, "You know I don't want you to.... " He stops because she's not there. He asks Nanuet and Chester if they saw her leave but neither did. "Damn!" Jake scratches his beard for a few seconds before he speaks again. "I'm going to go get my guns and I'll meet you two out in the street. Chester, you had better stay out of Gamble's way. The less aggravated he is the better. Keep an eye on him and his troops though, I have no experience with soldiering and don't know something suspicious from something normal. YOU need to make sure I know what is going on." Chester nods and Nanuet clasps Jake's hand looking worried. "OK, Mr. Cook. My keeping out of Gamble's way will make him less angry, which will be good for talking. I'll keep my eye on all of them and let you know if something sneaky is going on." Chester trots up to his room and gets his Spencer repeating rifle, plus some extra ammunition. Better safe than sorry. Jake heads upstairs.  He straps on his long barrel Colt on his left side, cross draw. He gathers up his new sawed-off shotgun and places it in a saddlebag with extra ammo for all his weapons. He grabs his shotgun and notices the repeater rifle and Ruby's shotgun is missing. He frowns and takes the other rifle. He searches through his other messy piles and smiles when he comes across some of the dynamite that Flint gave him. He holds it for a minute before he decides to put it in his other saddlebag. Finally he puts on his duster and hat, throws the saddlebags over his shoulder and heads out. She hurried upstairs and put on her riding clothes and long dark jacket. It looked a bit funny as it was made to go over a dress, but it would be chilly riding. Downstairs she went into the kitchen and asked Dorita to borrow two horses, explaining that if anything happened, she would make sure they were replaced with horses from the ranch. "And I saw Ginnie downstairs. Could you make sure she gets to bed at a decent hour? And, ahh," she searched for a way to ask Dorita to see that Ginnie was cared for but didn't want to say that she might not come back. "Just make sure she's alright?"After she spoke to Dorita, Kate went out to the stables and saddled the horses. She chose to ride her stallion as she knew Meribel was steady and would be fine for a less experienced rider. The stallion was still new to her and might need a firmer hand. There were soldiers all over, so Kate avoided the main streets, staying to the edge of town until she came to the cabin Jeff had described. Honestly though, she wouldn't have been sure if she hadn't seen Jeff outside. "Are we ready?" she asked quietly. Jeremiah Peck and Cornflower are both prepared to move out. They join up with Jeff Mills and Kate, Jeff is armed with a wide variety of weapons, a shotgun, rifle and two revolvers. None are newer models, most looking to be Civil War vintage.  The four ride east and into the Chiricahua Mountains. They estimate they have maybe a half-hour lead on the soldiers at this point.When Nanuet sees Jake next he is riding his horse, rifle and shotgun in long holsters off each side of his saddle, his duster buttoned up and his hat tilted slightly forward. "Good evening Indian, fine night for a ride." Jake rides up next to him. "Before I forget, you have $400 in an account at the national bank from the trinkets we got from the rustler's cave. I'm hoping we and the bank are going to survive this little trouble with the Apaches." Jake smiles at Nanuet. "I went to a lot of trouble to get that money there for you."Ruby arrives in front of the Lone Star on her horse and stops next to Jake and Nanuet. She is in her riding outfit, hair thrown up in a ponytail, fully outfitted to ride. She turns to Jake and picking up on his comment from twenty minutes earlier asks, "I know you don't want me to what?"</blockquote>

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