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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2625292" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 62, “I get to be the bearer of bad news…”, Thursday, March 16th, 1882:Kate continued to play piano back at the Lucky Lady.  After all the trouble getting a translator, Kate realized now that she wouldn't be able to spend time sitting and talking with Flint's friend.  Not much anyway.  She got Jeff and Job to turn the piano so she'd be able to see the room while she played.    Thankfully, Kate already knew what drink Tony Lucky always had, so she didn't have to speak to him when she took that tables orders.Thankfully Tony Lucky hadn't given her a hard time, and Kate was able to relax.  Once the games were in full swing she left the piano and went to sit with her guest.  Between Jeff and Maria they would be able to handle the smaller crowd.  She smiled warmly at Ricardo and Naki-Yai as she sat down.  "I apologize, I work here and with the others out I must take my turns. Now, tell me about how you met Flint.  I understand you have been out to the ranch before today."Ricardo translates, "The people, the Apache, we watch the ranch.  We saw that you and the woman Sonoma knew what to do but that Nanuet and Flint did not.  Flint most of all, he was clueless.   But none of the Apache would make the effort to show him.   I finally got angry at the men, watching but not helping, and decided to do it myself.   He is a friend of our Ambassador, we need to help make him successful.   Friends help friends."Kate says, "I was surprised when Flint took up my suggestion of ranching.  He certainly knows mining better, but that land is not good for mining.  He will learn, especially with friends such as yourself to help him."  She replies, "Oh, he hasn't completely given up on mining.  He's spent the last week hooking up a contraption to dig on its own."   Ricardo looks up after making the translation and says, "That sounds interesting.  Will you take me out to see it Mrs. Kale?" Kate tells him, "I'll need to get a look at it first, Ricardo.  If it looks like it won't just blow up or start chasing us on it's own, we'll ask your mother if you can come see.  Please tell her that even if the contraption doesn't work for mining, it might be useful for fence posts or crops, depending on how it works." Kate comments to Naki-Yai, "I admit, I have taken some comfort in the thought that your people might be keeping a friendly eye out for us.  Sonoma knows a great deal more than I do, but I do know my horses.  I'm grateful for you help, and I hope your people know we are ready to help them in any way, they need only ask.   How does Flint get on with his learning?"    Naki-Yai answers, "He listens to me.  I think he is lonely, that helps, he is more open to my suggestions than he would be otherwise.   I was told that dwarven society does not value women, but he is humble so he listens to me."Kate states, "I don't know much about dwarven society, but I know Flint has been around many very capable women lately and he is intelligent enough to realize their worth.  And you're right about him being lonely.  I am so busy lately I don't have time to be the friend I ought.  Of course, we don't have much in common either."Kate comments, "I should be getting back to the piano, I suppose.  Without Ruby here the crowd will wander away soon enough.  We'll see if I can keep them a little longer."  Katherine sat down at the piano and began some lively tunes.  Her mind wandered away quickly, even as her eyes stayed sharp.  It had been such a topsy-turvy day that her mind couldn't come to rest on one thing.  Her school, being suddenly so much closer to opening it, the trouble with Mr. Lucky, the sudden trouble tonight with Flint and Ruby's running off to who knew where, the manner in which Conrad had said good night.  Her unruly mind would keep going back there.  She vowed greater disciple and focused on her playing and watching.A few blocks away, Jake walks over to the front door of the Palace Saloon, shows the man he has no side arm and goes inside.  Jake gets a whiskey at the bar and sips it as he looks around the room. Minerva tucks the gun into the secret pocket of her gown where her derringer is also hidden. She hands the holster to Nanuet and puts a charming smile on her face. She enters the saloon behind Jake.Minerva walks up to Jake and notices a well-dressed man in a pressed suit walk in Jake's direction.   "I'm surprised to see you here," Evan Adair says to Jake, "I imagine you're here about the most recent newspaper story.   Everything in that story was true Cook, all of the Lucky Lady's gamblers have spent time behind bars.   Just because you bribed the Earps to keep it quiet and avoid a trial doesn't mean it didn't happen."Jake replies, "Newspaper story?  Must have been in Baxter's paper.  I don't read that.  Why would I ask you about that?  You haven't started a career as a journalist have you?"  Jake has a drink.  "It's up to you if you want to ask Wyatt Earp if he's taking bribes.  For the record, I'm not bribing lawmen." Adair replies, "Yeah, right.  Personally I've never known anyone to be stupid enough to come out and admit that they bribed a lawman.  So if that's not why you're here then I'd have to guess that you brought this girl over here as a peace offering to me," as he gestures to Minerva."Heh."  Jake and looks to Minerva who's eyebrows just shot up.  "I didn't bring her, she just happened to be coming in too.  Apparently you haven't met Senorita Florencia.  Senorita allow me to introduce to you the owner of this establishment Mr. Evan Adair." While talking Jake continues to surreptitiously scan the room for Gifford.Minerva's dark eyes flash in irritation, "Beware how you welcome a preacher to town Senor Adair, the gods might take offense at such vulgarity."  Clearly insulted she gives him a hard look, smiles coolly and holds out her hand. "Now let us begin again." " Buenas Tardes, (good evening) Senor Adair. I am The Priestess Minerva Garcia Florencia and it is I who have come here to discuss an offer from you. She continues Haughtily "I have little time tonight, and am not inclined to discuss the gods business in this atmosphere.  I shall return tomorrow afternoon.  Perhaps you will give me a kinder reception in the light of day." Minerva continues to nonchalantly scan the room.Nanuet stands with Flint outside the Palace.  The Dwarf is obviously antsy about moving on. "What is taking them so long?" he grumbles "Have patience Flint.  Jake is not one to rush into a fight.  I am sure he is in there doing what he is supposed to be doing, just in his own way.  We will know if we are needed and when." Nanuet keeps his eyes focused on the surrounding street and routinely checks back to the front door of the Palace for any hints of trouble.  He and Flint then see Deputy Marshall Eduardo Rodriguez, heading east down Sierra from the direction of East Street.    Rodriguez walks directly up to them and says "What are the two of you doing out here?   Don't tell me you're planning to go inside, this place doesn't allow non-humans."Nanuet speaks up first.  "Just the man we were looking for.  Marshall, there is a man somewhere in this town who murdered a friend of ours a while back.  We know he is here in town and we have been trying to find him and bring him for justice.  We have checked out a couple of the local saloons so far and had no luck.  Jake Cook is inside The Palace right now since as you pointed out, we are not allowed inside.  As soon as he comes out and let's us know what he finds out we will move along." Rodriguez says, "Sounds like a plan.   I'm not going near that place, I'm less welcome there than you two.   The owner is one of several in this town who wants me fired."Back at the Lucky Lady, Kate is the first to notice a disheveled George Eastman stagger into the Lucky Lady.   He does not appear to be armed so Luc lets him by.   He heads directly to towards the poker table where he slams his hands down on the table, interrupting the game.   Jeff Mills heads out from behind the bar and starts to walk in that direction.   Eastman points to Job and yells "We had a deal!  We shook on it.  She was mine."   He then gets lightheaded and looks like he is about to collapse.  Jeff grabs an empty chair from a nearby table and shoves it under George before he falls down.     The entire saloon is silent for a few minutes while George blinks a few times and appears to regain some composure.   He then looks back at Job Kane and says "You? You're not Cook!"Kate stepped down from the piano.  There was a much more interesting show going on at Job's table.  "No, he's not," she said as she arrived at the table.  "Jeff, could you get some good strong coffee for Mr. Eastman please?  Sir, why don't we go sit at a quieter table and let these men get on with their game.  Come along now," she said getting him out of his chair and using her shoulder beneath his to support him.He starts to get up and then collapses onto the floor and jostling the table, knocking off some of the cards and chips.   Job stops his game telling his players "Time for a break, head over to the bar and Niles will serve you up a complimentary round."    Tony had also stopped his game and asks, "What about my players?"  Job says, "Yeah, them too." While the poker players all flock to the bar Job and Kate help Eastman up he yells out "This isn't fair.  She was supposed to me mine, Cook said so."   Job asks, "What are you talking about?"  Eastman collapses partially into his arms and in a half-yell, half-cry exclaims "We spent the night together, drinking, dancing, talking about the future......then she announces to the whole place that she loves Cook instead of me and won't marry me!   Damn it!  It isn't fair.  She was mine, not his."Once they had him safely in a chair Kate said, "I don't know what you think Jake agreed to, but I'm fairly certain you're wrong."  She slipped into a chair on the other side of the table where she could still see Naki-Yai.  "So Ruby is at the El Parador.  That's a relief at least.  Let me ask you Mr. Eastman, if you're sober enough to answer, who did the talking about the future?  You or Ruby?  And as far as who she belongs to, that's for Ruby to decide no matter what agreement you think you have with Jake.  You seem to have a great talent for hearing only things you want to." Katherine took a deep breath and said in a gentler tone, "I'm not unsympathetic, sir.  From what I know of you, you seem a very nice man and well worth knowing.  But you have allowed your fancy for a woman you know only in your imagination to blind you.  It's time to open your eyes and see the truth."He sobs openly and says, "There is no future.  She's gone, gone from me forever..."  He then passes out.   "What does he mean by that?" Job asks.    Mike Moore, one of Tony Lucky's regular players says, "Sounds like he killed her!"    Job says, "Calm down everybody.  Niles, get the smelling salts from behind the bar."   Tony exclaims, "Wouldn't surprise me.  I saw him fighting with Cook earlier about her.  This guy wanted her bad.  I guess he decided that if he couldn't have her then nobody would."Kate says, "If something had happened to Ruby, we'd know about it by now.  I'm sure she's fine, in nearly the same condition as he is, but fine.  He's spent the last several days refusing to hear the word no.  I think Ruby finally made him understand."Job says, "Yeah, but we'd better make sure."  He calls for Maria who pops her head out of the kitchen.  "Maria, head over to the El Parador and make sure that Ruby is there and that she's safe."   He then orders Harry Rote to "Go find the Marshall.  If he isn't in his office check at the Great Western Boarding House, he lives there."    Niles hands Job the smelling salts.  Job comments, "Let's wait until the Marshall gets here, just in case."Back inside the Palace Saloon, Adair states to Minerva, "Oh, so you're this new preacher!".   "Well as far as I'm concerned you and that stinking Committee of yours can go visit the God of the Underworld Hades in the place by the same name!   How dare you people try to rule against how my employees can dress inside of my own building!.  Get out before I throw you out.  You and your overly judgmental friends aren't welcome here!" "Senor,  You are an ignorant buffoon for presuming that the committee and I are of the same mind. It is a wonder you have not driven yourself out of business."   Minerva glances at Jake and he subtlety nods towards the door.  Giving Adair an angry look she turns on her heel and huffs out of the saloon.Jake shakes his head as he watches Minerva storm out of the saloon.  He drains the rest of his whiskey and says, "Adair, you have a knack for chasing attractive women out of your saloon.  I am surprised at you."  Jake puts the empty glass on the bar.  "The Palace seems dimmer from her departure, so I guess I'll be headed out.  Thanks for your company." Jake strolls out the front door and is surprised to see Rodriguez across the street with Nanuet and Flint.  Jake approaches noticing that Minerva is still seething.  "I didn't see him in there.  Buenos noches Senor Rodriguez."  Jake nods.  "We are running out of saloons."  He scratches his beard some and finally says, "Gifford used to live over in a mining camp, anybody know where that was?  If he did ride into town then his horse is likely over at the corral.   We could check that too."A man walking out of the Palace overhears and says "Gifford?  You looking for Lane Gifford?"   Nanuet says, "Yes, heard he was in town.  Need to speak to him about some unfinished business from a while back.  Know where he is?" The man gestures back to the Palace and says, "Yeah, he's in there.  Went upstairs with Fannie Mitchum around a half-hour ago.  Should be back down soon."  Nanuet thinks to himself, "Only half an hour?" When the man passes by Nanuet says,  "Thanks mister.  Appreciate it."  Jake says to Rodriguez, "Gifford may be a link to the Cowboy gang.  He was linked to the money that was used to hire the men that shot Morgan Earp a while back.  Warren could fill you in on it."  Jake takes his gun belt back from Nanuet.  "I'm willing to help you bring him in alive."  Jake says and looks at Flint.Nanuet turns to Jake and the two walk far enough away that the man whom he just spoke to can not hear him. "Well we know where he is and we have the Marshall here to handle the arrest.  So why don't you head back and see what's left of your card game.  We should be able to handle it from here." Flint says "Let's go!" as he pulls the shotgun from his back.    Rodriguez reaches down and draws a throwing dagger from his boot and says, "Guess we'll find out if the recognize my badge or not."   The Deputy Sheriff walks up into the Saloon.   The bouncer McCoy goes to stop him."Really?"  Jake says to no one and walks over towards the Palace to the far left of the doorway.  "Prosper, I wouldn't interfere with the lawman.  Good time to take a break I think, don't you Senorita?."  Jake says with his hand on Colt.Nanuet comments, "This is not going to be pretty is it?"  He is torn about whether to follow the two into the saloon or to stay here like he suggested.  In the end he decides on neither course. "I am going to go around back in case someone thinks that is a good way to get out of there.  Holler if you need me."  Nanuet pulls out his pistol as he makes his way around the back of the saloon.  Once there he tries to find a shadowy spot to conceal himself where he still has a view of the door.Rodriguez says, "Sir, we don't want any trouble but one of your customers needs to be questioned regarding the shooting of Morgan Earp two months back.   I don't think that the Earps will take kindly to you harboring a guy who shot his brother." McCoy steps back letting the group enter.   Adair quickly makes his way across the room and asks "What's going on?  This your doing Cook?""Not me, you heard the Deputy Marshall.  It wouldn't hurt our stranding with the Earps to bring this guy in though.  You want to help?"  Jake smiles at Adair.  "Somebody needs to keep your customers quiet and calm though.  They won't wander over to the Lucky Lady if we make this quick." Adair asks, "Who is it that you're looking for....Marshall."   Eduardo says, "A man by the name of Lane Gifford."   Adair looks to McCoy who says, "Pockmarked guy with the scar, upstairs with Fannie."   Adair tells McCoy, "Well go get him, we can't keep these....gentlemen...waiting."   McCoy heads upstairs.   Twenty minutes have goes by at the Lucky Lady when Maria finally returns, out of breath and looking upset.  She exclaims, "Ruby not at El Parador, she said she no marry him," she points to Eastman, "And was coming back here. She left right before he did, Pedro say so." Maria starts to get teary eyed. "Where is she?" "He killed her!" Mike Moore yells.   Another of Tony's players, Billy Glass, exclaims, "Damn, she was a good singer.  Let's string him up."   Job tells everyone to calm down, but the crowd won't have any of it.  Niles breaks out the shotgun from behind the bar and yells "Saloon's closed, everybody out."    The patrons all file out the door, a few men kicking the unconscious Eastman as they file by him. Maria starts crying. "Poor Miss Ruby. She finally happy here, she told me so."Kate went over to Maria and put her arms around her.  "Ruby is not dead, do you hear me?  All we know is she left the El Parador and didn't arrive here.  We need to check streets between here and there.  If she is as drunk as he is she might have just stopped to be sick.  I don't suppose you can speak the Apache language Maria?" "No, I don't speak Apache. And Pedro already send someone out to look for Ruby in the street. But I had bad sign today, I knew something bad would happen!" Maria sobs, "Three black birds fly over the Lucky Lady. But later I only see two. Very unlucky." She sobs some more and puts her head in her hands.Kate exclaims, "Ruby's fine, I'm sure.  The men just took something Mr. Eastman said out of context, but it's best we find her and get it all cleared up.  Can you take Ricardo home for me in a few minutes?" Kate walked over to Naki-Yai and has Ricardo explain the situation.  "We need to look for her, so I guess you'll have to come with me.  I'm not leaving the search to others.  We won't be able to communicate, I can't take Ricardo into this.  Would you be more comfortable staying here?" Katherine waits for the Apache woman's answer and for Job to come back down so they can go find Ruby.Kate turned frightened eyes to the men in the saloon.  "Thank you for clearing the place out, Mr. Hoover.  Someone will need to stay here to protect him until we know what's really happened."   However, unbeknownst to them, one unfortunate side effect of Hoover clearing out the Lucky Lady is that around two-dozen patrons then fanned out to every other saloon in town with the news of Ruby's demise. Billy Glass bursts into the El Parador. "We're forming a posse to string up that Eastman fella. He killed Ruby." Everyone looks up in shock.  Pedro asks, "What do you mean? She's probably at the Lucky Lady." "No. She isn't there. Last anyone saw her, she was talking to that easterner. Then he comes in drunk as a skunk, going on about how she was gone forever. He did it. They closed the Lucky Lady early, but he's still inside. Let's go get him." A few of the customers join Glass at the door over Pedro and Dorita's objections.Chester looks over at Clarisse. "Miss Townsend, I have to look into this. Ruby's one of my friends." "You're going to hang Mr. Eastman? What about a trial?" Chester pats her hand. "Don't worry. I'm not joining the posse. But I am going to the Lucky Lady to find out what happened. Do you want to come with me? I don't know how long this will take." She replies, "Yes, I'll go with you.  Don't leave me with this mob.   Poor Ruby."  Chester and Clarisse duck out the back door, avoiding the mob. He says, "There's got to be a simple explanation for this. They didn't check her room upstairs. That's got to be it." They see another crowd gathering at the front door of the El Parador with Mr. Hoover telling those assembled to go home. Helen Barker is there demanding to see her cousin. Chester looks around and guides Clarisse to the back alley. He fumbles for his key ring and unlocks the door to the kitchen. "Quickly, before someone sees us." He locks the door behind him and goes into the main room. "Katherine, what happened?" He points at the unconscious Eastman. "One of Tony's players came into the El Parador saying that he killed Ruby. Did you look upstairs, yet?" "We did, Chester, but she isn't there either. Some of us are going to look for her outside. She was very drunk, so she may have become ill. Could you guard Mr. Eastman until we get this resolved?" "Yeah. Job? Help me get him upstairs to one of the guestrooms. It'll be easier to keep him safe there. Clarisse, just sit tight."  Naki-Yai indicates that she is would like to leave, having the seen the angry mob now growing outside the front door.Another pair of patrons from the Lucky Lady have now entered the Palace saloon, walking around the deputy and his friends near the doorway, and head over towards the bar. While they are waiting the bartender calls for Adair who excuses himself and goes over to the bar.  He has a short and quiet conversation with two men seated at the bar, one of who Jake recognizes as Judson Willis, a regular at Tony Lucky's table.Prosper McCoy heads down the stairs, his hands clutching onto Lane Gifford's neck and back.   Gifford is busy pulling up his pants.   When they get to the bottom Deputy Marshall Rodriguez reaches over and pulls off Gifford's belt, saying "I'll take that."   Giffords pants fall down to his feet, eliciting a laugh from the entire Saloon.   While Rodriguez uses the belt to secure Giffords hands behind his back Adair walks back from the bar, suppressing a smile and being followed by Judson Willis.  Adair walks right up to Cook.  With no small amount of glee in his voice Adair says, "Mr. Cook, I seems that I get to be the bearer of bad news.   Your friend Ruby West has been murdered." Silence follows that announcement. Willis then interjects, "I'm sorry Mr. Cook but it's true.  She had dinner with that Eastman guy.   She announced to the whole restaurant that she wouldn't marry him, that she loved you instead.   When she left he followed her out and killed her."</blockquote>

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