Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2211620" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 31, “Ministerial Advice”, Sunday, March 12th, 1882:Once back at the Lucky Lady, Ruby sees Kate and Nanuet, and Minerva at a nearby table. She heads over to Minerva’s table and nods for Kate and Nanuet to join her. "Hello, Miss Florencia, how did your sermon go?" Ruby's hands are shaking slightly and she has a distracted look in her eye, as she did the night before. Minerva notices Ruby's shaking hands but says nothing about it. "The sermon was very productive.  Shouldn't take much longer to get that church built." She motions to the chair across from her. How about letting me repay you for last nights kindness. I would be honored to buy you a drink."Ruby laughs lightly and sits. "No need to buy me a drink, I own part of this Saloon." She waves over Sonoma, who knows to bring the whiskey. She gives them each a glass. "I'm glad to hear that your church will be built soon. I've been hearing about it getting built since I got here. And have you found a place to stay yet?" Ruby is impatient for Nanuet and Kate to come over to the table, and she keeps looking to them to see what is taking so long."I'll be staying at the Comstock House. It's a pretty enough place. The rent is reasonable and it's very convenient. Right near the church site makes it easy for people to find me. Full of big strong men too! Can't feel much safer than that." Minerva chuckles and pours the whiskey when it arrives. "Well then," Ruby holds up her glass, "To big strong men!" They clink their glasses together and drink. "I've heard the Comstock House is nice, I've only seen it from the outside. And from the talk I heard around town today, you've made a lot of friends. Sounds like you are doing well."She replies, “Oh we are doing well, aren't we Luna?”  She scratches the owl’s head and Luna nuzzles her cheek.  “We certainly have met a lot of people today. Everyone has been so helpful too.  Of course church building isn't going to pay my rent so I guess I'll have to find another way to support myself. I was considering selling some of my tapestries.  Am I going to meet your friends?" she nods her head toward Kate and Nanuet. "I know that your friend and I didn't get off on the right foot. It would be nice to give it another try." She looks at Kate. "She looks familiar somehow, but I don't think we've met.""I suppose we had better go over," Kate said to Nanuet. "Although I'm not in the mood to be chided for not going to services."  The two stood and walked over to the table where Ruby and Minerva sat. "I'm sorry Ruby, we were just finishing a short discussion. I'm afraid I can't stay long, I'm quite exhausted and I have one more errand to run before I can go home and go to bed. It's been a long but rewarding day," she said, hoping Ruby took her meaning. "It would be a shame to leave without meeting your friend though," Kate added, looking at Minerva."But you met... Oh right." Ruby remembers that last night Kate was not herself. "This is Minerva, the new cleric for the church they are building. Minerva, this is Mrs. Katherine Kale. And you've already met Nanuet. Kate and Nanuet own a ranch outside of town that they just started up. Sit down you two I have to talk to you."  Ruby then asks, "Kate, what did you find out?""How do you do?” Kate asks, “My apologies Miss Minerva, business matters. Ruby, we wouldn't want to bore our new acquaintance with business. I can assure you, everything is taken care of, just as you wanted it."  Ruby replies, "Are you sure? Because last night... well... it didn't go so well..."  Minerva interjects, "I am sorry Ruby, I don't want to interrupt your business. Luna and I should be going anyway." She stands up.  Ruby replies, "No, sit and stay, please. You haven't even eaten yet. Besides, you told me yesterday that in time you hoped I would listen to your counsel. Well, I am in need of some advice." Ruby sighs, “I am in big trouble now. This guy, Mr. Eastman says he is in love with me and that is why he wants to marry me. I tried to convince him but didn’t have much chance with Helen Barker standing over us. So I agreed to have dinner with him tomorrow. Oh, if Jake finds out he’ll get the wrong idea but I can’t lie to him! I have to be delicate with this situation, I don’t want him running off and contacting my parents and he is rich and maybe influential. Under normal circumstances I would tell him off and be done with it. If that didn't work then I would just leave town. I can't leave town anymore, not with all my friends here. But it doesn't seem like he is going to take no for an answer." Ruby puts her head in her hands.Minerva answers, "I don't have the answer for you Ruby but I understand how parents can be when you don't do what is expected." She says with a hint of bitterness in her voice. "You can't let what your parents think stop you from following your heart. You must stand your ground with this Mr. Eastman, after all he can't very well drag you back and I won't marry you here." Ruby looks distraught. "You don't strike me as the kind of girl to run away, and as for this Jake, I assume this is the man you have been so worried about? If he cares for you the way you apparently care for him you must trust him to be your ally. By the goddess Ruby, what's the worst thing that could happen?" She raises an eyebrow. "Of course we could arrange a ceremony for you and this Jake fellow... feigned or real...or if it makes it easier for you I could crash your little party tomorrow night and mediate. After all no one likes to refuse the preacher."Kate interjects, "I suggested the same thing yesterday. You can't marry Mr. Eastman if you're already married.  As for powerful parents, you are old enough now that your life is yours to do with what you will. No one can force you to do anything. And if they were to try physically taking you against your will, there are many here who would stand with you."  Minerva looks at Kate appraisingly. "Well said Kate!, By the way my name is Minerva, I don't think we've been introduced yet but there is something so familiar about you." Turning to Ruby, " you're very fortunate to have such loyal friends. I hope that you will count me among them.  If This Eastman fellow were to try to force your hand he would have to get by me also." Perhaps between the three of us we can come up with a plan."Ruby rubs her eyes. “You know, this marriage thing…it’s all I hear about and I’m tired of it.” Ruby shakes her head, “You think Jake wants to get married? He would never agree to it. I don’t even know how he really feels about me. I told him how I felt about him, that I cared about him, that I loved him and he said he didn’t understand." Ruby is blushing and clearly uncomfortable. "Of course, I did drop it on him while he was in jail. I was stupid, it was bad timing but I don’t have much experience with this kind of stuff. Regardless of that, it seems like an easy idea to get men to stop asking me to marry them, but he won’t do it, I know it. I can't even think clearly myself to figure if it's a good idea or not." “Yes, Jake is the man I’ve been worried about. Currently he’s in jail,” Ruby sees Minerva’s raised eyebrows, “He is completely innocent, of course, and tomorrow the trial will reveal that. We were going to talk about it, my letter, after that. We have had more important things than my feelings to worry about until then.” “I know I have to tell Jake but I’ll wait until after the trial so he isn’t thinking about it. I’ll find a way to make Mr. Eastman understand, I hope.” She looks up at her friends. "I'm sorry to drop this on all of you. I'm not used to feeling, well, not... confident."   Minerva states, "There's a time when confidence comes from within yourself and there is a time that confidence comes from faith."  Kate and Ruby look at Minerva with that Oh here comes the have faith in the gods speech.  "Faith in what you know in your heart to be true. " Ruby says, "I know what's in my heart. What I don't know is what's in his. Jake and I are so alike. I told myself I would never let this happen. So he might have too, and be stronger than me to make sure it didn't." Kate adds, "Yes, you're usually quite sure of yourself. And you should be now as well. I know Jake is not the marrying kind, but then neither are you. But I'm sure his devotion matches yours, and I know yours to be strong indeed, stronger than any other attachment you might have." Kate paused a moment. "I'm not sure what plan could be made, and I know I'm in no condition right now to be helpful. It's been two days since I slept, and I'm afraid I'm not at my best."Ruby says, "Alright, enough of this. I'm tired and I know Kate is too. The trial is tomorrow, Minerva, I hope you'll come. I'm going to spend the rest of my night upstairs, hopefully sleeping. I wish I had some of Mr. Gonzales tea..." Ruby stands. "Thank you all for the support, I really appreciate it. Nanuet, will you walk the ladies home?" Nanuet agrees and when Minerva is finished eating he escorts them home.   Kate interjects, “Thank you Nanuet, but I need no escort. I still have a visit to make." Nanuet is surprised at Kate's response about not wanting to be walked home saying, "Well, I can't force my company upon you, so have it your way.” Kate stopped at the Marshal's office and spoke to both Jake and Chester. She avoided talking about her meeting with Wyatt, only assuring them that everything had been done that could be done, and predicting they would be back with them tomorrow. She hoped they understood what she was trying to tell them.  Ginnie was still devouring books when she returned and climbed into bed. The light wouldn't bother her. What did bother Kate was the way she'd felt around Ruby. She'd had a hard time feeling any sympathy for her in this particular predicament.   "Your friend Miss West said he was with your family in Boston...." She heard Wyatt Earp's voice in her mind. So casually he told her that Ruby gave him her family for Jake. She couldn't just say he was in Boston. Yes, Kate herself had told him the same thing, but after she had known he'd have no reason to go there, no reason to threaten her family to get what he wanted.  She could understand giving everything for someone you loved. Kate had been willing to give almost anything for Tom even after he'd died. But somewhere in the back of her mind Kate prayed it never came to a choice between her and Jake again.Ruby goes to their bedroom and picks out an outfit for the next day. She picks up Jake's shirt off the floor and puts it on and smiles. It still smells like him. Hopefully tomorrow it would be him and not the shirt. With that thought in mind Ruby falls asleep.Nanuet turns to the Priestess and says, “Miss Minerva, I know we did not get off on the right foot, I only have my own grumpiness to blame for that. Will you allow me the satisfaction of seeing you back to your boarding house safely?"The priestess replies, “Luna and I would gladly accept your offer Senor Nanuet. Minerva stands and makes a small clicking noise signaling Luna to hop up on her shoulder.  "Senor. I too must apologize for teasing you the other night. It was rude of me to do so when we had barely even met." She gives him a sheepish look and places her arm in his. " Perhaps we can start over. I would hope that we could be friends one day . Do you know Promise City well?" Nanuet smiles a boyish grin and blushes as the shapely woman tucks her arm in his. "Well it has been my home for a couple months now. It is a long story how I came here and one that is now in the past. Although I have never lived in a town before I found this place to my liking. I think it has to do more with the people here though, many of which have treated me kindly."  The two made their way out of the Lucky Lady and headed towards the Comstock house at a leisurely pace. The two make small talk as they walk under the stars to the Comstock house. Luna flies on ahead.Luc had kept it low key over the next day. He had snuck back into the Lucky Lady later after everyone had gone home. He spent the next day doing odds and ends around the saloon trying to avoid everyone. He didn't even bother to see what was going on when he heard Ruby and Nanuet making all that noise. During dinner he stayed out back keeping himself busy. He came in a little after that and took his post by the door.  He then headed back to his bunk, with the odd feeling that something interesting was going to happen soon.</blockquote>

Verification