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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2175723" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 28, “A Day in Boston”, Sunday, March 12th, 1882:They walked into another room, this one furnished with delicate looking settees and tables. The colors were softer blues and greens. Katherine sat down with her father and took his hand. "Papa, I've missed you too. I have considered coming home many times, but for now I think I must stay in Arizona. You wouldn't believe how many times I've wished for you, when I thought I wouldn't make it through the night. But I have to learn to stand on my own. I have friends there who count on me, and you heard Ginnie, she could never live here. And Papa, I'm changing. I'm not sure I could go back to idle days again. I feel the need to be busy and doing.  In a few years I may come back home, after I learn what I could be. Do you understand?"  He replies, "Yes my dear, I believe that I do. Although you may not want to discuss this with your mother, I doubt that she would be as understanding."Yes, I know," Kate laughed. "You've always understood me better." They stood up and headed back toward his office. "Did I tell you I met the son of the actor Edwin Booth in Promise City?" Kate asked lightly. "He only met his father once, and he is not recognized by him, but he looks just like Edwin Booth did when you took me to the theater. Do you remember?" "Ah yes, I remember it well." Kate and her father continue to talk for the next hour. Mr. John Roberts arrives soon with a large book about Europe filled with ten photographs include one of the Arch de Triumph. The picture was a few years old, so the people in it are not all in the latest fashions, but Kate and her father both thought it would be sufficient for their purposes.  Roberts is brought into the sitting room and introduced to Emerson and Whittier. Kate's mother heads off with Ginnie to show her the house. Tucker comes downstairs wearing a suit and bringing along another for the other photos. He gets into the carriage with Gonzales, Seagram and Kate. Along the way Gonzales explains to Seagram that in Mexico they do not have the same aversion to magic use in the United States and that he has learned some simple spells, one which he will use to enlarge the photograph.   Seagram laughs and says "I think you might know a bit more magic than that. I did hear my daughter make reference to your being in Arizona last night."  Kate's eyes widened as she realized that she had done exactly that, after being so careful all day to make their timeline vague. But she was encouraged. Perhaps someday she could tell her father what her lessons really were. Gonzales carefully removes the photo from the book and casts a pair of Enlarge spells onto it, making a six-by-eight foot portrait backdrop. Gonzales casts a temporary spell on Tucker growing out his facial hair into a beard and mustache to give him a different look for the Paris photo, so that it will look like it was taken a month later. They arrive at the Hawes studio. The picture takes a while to set up, as several props need to be found and added to give the illusion of a Paris street. The photo is then taken.  Gonzales removes the facial hair and Tucker changes into the other suit. Hawes sends an assistant out with Gonzales and Tucker to take some pictures around the city. They shoot one near the U.S. Constitution otherwise known as Old Ironsides. They then take another by the Old North Church. They return to the studio and the pictures are developed.  They then return to the Seagram mansion along with the photographs. After they returned, they gathered all the evidence they had collected and looked it over. They all agreed that it should be convincing enough for the Earps. It was earlier in Arizona than it was here, so Kate took some time to sit with her mother while Mr. Gonzales enjoyed the chance to talk with Mr. Emerson and Mr. Whittier. Before dinner Kate presented her mother with the lace Ginnie had made. "She's very talented," Kate said with some pride. "You won't find finer lace anywhere."  "If you'll excuse me, I'd like to talk with Mr. Tucker for a few moments." Colby Tucker heard his name and came over, offering his arm. She led him away into another, smaller parlor. While everyone else is talking Ginnie slips out of the house and heads to the graveyard where the city buries those to poor to supplies the funds for themselves.  In an unmarked section of ground near a large old maple tree that is in back of the churchyard Ginnie looks across the expanse of ground where most of her family lies.  The tears roll down her face as she tells the dirty winter snow of her travels, the orphanage, someone adopting her baby sister away from her and how she will not ever give up looking for her, the orphan train, the whore house that bought her, her running and living on the streets.  It had been almost three years since she had given herself permission to cry and in a way it felt good, a release that she hadn't had the luxury to give herself if she was to keep herself safe.  When she had cried herself dry she started to talk about the recent events. "I almost don't understand it Mama, it's as if I've paid my dues and things are getting better.  I can read now as much as I want to I'm not hungry and if I want to learn something Ma'am Kate lets me find out.  The only thing she wants in return is for me to keep my hands in my own pocket and a bit of lace now and then.  And Mama, magic is real just like Granny used to say, and I think I can learn how to do it like she said her Auntie could.  And when I do I can find Sissy and put us back together again.  I don't think I'm ever going to be hungry or unable to take care of myself again....and I'm going to go back out west.  I can change my world there and no one puts out 'No Irish Need Apply' signs.  I'm leaving Boston and I don't know when I might come back, but I'm doing well and have the future in front of me and the ability to take it and I'm going to.  I love you and I miss you but I'm ok. Yes I really am OK."     With that she draped a small piece of lace on the lower branch of the maple tree and headed back to the house where HER Ma'am Kate was intense on starting a new life where she was part of a family again. Ginnie slips back into the house and heads to the library where she snuggles into a couch corner with a book open on her lap and a piece of needle lace in her hand to work onKatherine had taken a seat on a settee and Tucker sat in a chair across from her. "That day in Tombstone, I wanted to ask you some questions. I understand now why you wouldn't answer, but please, answer them now. I had thought to get them from Morgan Earp, but I doubt now that will be possible, and I need to know. What happened the night Tom died?"Colby says, "What exactly is it that you want to know? I've already told your friends that Morgan did it, it was Morgan's knife that I saw in Tom's back."  Kate replies, "No, not that. Not really. How was he? Was he.... happy? What did you do that night, who was there?" Kate smiled. "Was he winning? I just want to know what went on in the Oriental that night. Not in the alley, I already know that. More than that, what did he do in Tombstone? How did he spend his time, was he adjusting, feeling better? I think Tom would have liked the west. To be free of society's constraints and just work and live close to everything. I just want to know how he was."Colby answers, "Yes, he loved the west. It was the best thing for him both physically and mentally. The only thing he was missing was you. He saw Cochise County as having lots of potential. He figured that the mines will eventually play out, in which case it will be the ranches that support the communities. If you waited until then all the best ranch land would be gone, so the time to buy it was now while everyone was preoccupied with silver instead. He wanted investors, so he could buy now what you needed instead of waiting, and didn't want to borrow from your father. He needed to do it himself. We had spoken to Clum, James Earp and Johnny Ringo about it. Time was short, Tom wanted to have what he needed the minute you walked off the train.  That's why we were in the card game at the Oriental Saloon that night. Me, Tom, James and Morgan Earp, Ringo and the bartender Leslie. Tom realized early on that before these guys would partner or invest with anybody they had to know you, and the best place to get to know a gambler is at the card table. Not that Tom was much of a gambler, the three or four times before that he played he'd stay until he lost his ten dollars and would then leave. He figured this night would be the same as the others, he'd have a drink, lose his ten bucks, and then wait for a break in the game to talk to Ringo or James. But this night was different, he was elated over your impending arrival and in the first hour had three drinks instead of his usual one. He wasn't drunk, but he was more relaxed. I don't know if it was that, or just plain luck, but he started to win instead of loosing. As the night wore on he found himself up $ 100, then $ 200. He started to think that if his luck kept up he wouldn't be needing investors, with the winnings he'd have enough for the ranch on his own. When James Earp decided to call it night I left as well. I should have stayed, damn it! Tom was up almost $ 300 at that point. I wandered back to the boarding house and lay down. I got up a few hours later and Tom still wasn't back, so I went looking for him. The rest you know."Kate answers, "He should have known better than that. He was the only thing I needed when I stepped off that train. Nothing else mattered, not money or ranches or a fancy place to live. If it had four walls, a roof, and him it would have been enough.  You need to stop blaming yourself for this. Tom wasn't drunk, there was no reason for you to think he couldn't get himself home. As soon as you knew something was wrong you went looking for him. You were a good friend to him, Colby. I said some things to you that day in Tombstone, things I shouldn't have. I'm sorry, and I'm glad things are going well for you now.  He replies, "Ma'am, to be totally honest, most of that day is a blur to me. What I remember most is your helping me get to safety...and a new life."   She says, “You'll always be part of this family now, I'm sure you'll make us proud."  He says, “I'll do my best Ma'am. You have a wonderful family with wonderful friends. I can see how you turned out the way that you have." Kate pulled out her handkerchief and blotted her damp eyes, but there was a smile on her lips. "Thank you. It's not everything, but I think it's enough."  He answers, "No, thank you, for everything." "Well," Kate looked down for a moment, uncertain. "I guess that ends our meeting of the mutual admiration society," she laughed. "And my friends and I need to be headed back. We still have an errand to run before we leave and I have friends who need me in Promise City." They walked back through the house and gathered the others together. "We have to go," Kate said, hugging her mother. "It will be dark before long and we still need to visit Ginnie's parents. Thank you, all of you, for everything." Her parents both give her warm embrace and tell her that she is welcome to return at any point. Her father says, "Please let us know when a good time for a visit would be and we'll come out west."  Mr. Seagram makes sure that she has the letters from Tucker, the photographs and the envelope sent from Paris. “Yes, I have everything. Tell Henry and Phil I'm sorry I didn't see them. I'm sure it won't be long at all before I'm ready to see all of you in Promise City." After a few more false starts, hugs, and good-byes, Katherine, Ginnie, and Mr. Gonzales head back outside. It had taken a bit of fast talking to get around being sent in a carriage, but her father smoothed that over and they were able to walk unhindered. As they walked down the drive Ginnie said, "Ma'am Kate, I've already been to the graveyard, so we can go."  Kate stopped for a minute and looked at the girl. "Ginnie, you shouldn't have run off by... I know you can take care of yourself, but that doesn't mean you always have to. Next time, let me know. We could have come with you, or at least sent someone to keep you safe." They slipped back into the carriage house and the unused room at the back. Mr. Gonzales knew their return point very well, so there was only the one incantation this time. It was becoming familiar to Kate, so she knew exactly when to reach out and take his hand. A moment later the three were back in Mr. Gonzales' "public" room. Katherine held on to his hand a moment longer. "Thank you for taking me home. I didn't realize how much I needed to go there. And now, I need to go to the Marshal's office. Ginnie, why don't you take those books from Papa back to our room. I'm sure you can find something to entertain you while I'm gone. It shouldn't be long."Gonzales goes with Kate back to her room to help her get both envelopes to put the letters in and to double check them to make sure they look okay. He gives her a hug and says "Are you sure you want to do this part by yourself? It could be dangerous. Maybe we should get Nanuet or Mr. Booth to go with you."An outside witness might not be a bad idea. Conrad doesn't know about this, his presence might keep Wyatt Earp from trying anything. If I see him downstairs I'll ask him to come with me. It could be dangerous, but I don't think so. If the Earps had intended me physical harm, they would have done it already. Thank you, for everything. I'll see you in a little while." Kate went downstairs and saw Conrad Booth sitting at his dinner. "I wonder if you could do me a favor," she said after she walked over and said hello. "I need to go somewhere, and I'd feel better with an escort. I'll tell you all about it afterward, I promise." Conrad looked up from his dinner, smiling at her voice before his face fell at her appearance. "Katherine, is everything alright? You're in black again."  She says, "Oh, yes. I had to go somewhere today, and it was appropriate to wear black for that errand. Will you come? It won't take long." He looks up towards Dorita, who had just brough him his dinner.  "You not eat my food too?" she exclaims.   He replies, "Of course. Dorita, I'll be back, would you keep this warm for me?" He stood and took Katherine's arm.  Kate led the way through the streets, and a few minutes later she and Conrad entered the Marshal's office.Ginnie dropped the books in their room and then went back to watch Mr. Gonzalas' doorway for Ma'am Kate to leave. After she had headed down stairs Ginnie knocked softly on the door and slipped into the room. Umm...Mr. Gonzalas sir I just want to see if I have this right. With that she repeats the first incantation for the mind reading spell concentrating on both the pitch and cadence of the sounds but purposely not focusing it on any person. Then she repeats the traveling spell following the vocal component with a description of the brassier, the heat level of the fire, the smell colors and texture of the components. "Is that right? I know I'm missing a bit of the magic as the lines in the room don't move for me the way they do for you. but am I close?" He gives her a stern stare and says "Young lady, I think I need to talk to Ma'am Kate about this. Please go back to your room and try reading something without incantations in it." Ginnie blushes a deep crimson and shrugs her shoulders, "OK I'll stay away from the spell books... "she looks over her shoulder with a happy guilty little smile as she heads out of the room "for now" with a giggle she closes the door behind her and scampers back to her room to devour the new books Ma'am Kate's father had given her to read.</blockquote>

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