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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2813727" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 100, “Revelations“, Sunday, March 19th , 1882, 11:30 A.M. Chester turns to Minerva. "That was a good sermon, Minerva. You'll have that new church in no time." She pours herself a glass of whisky and smiles at Chester over the rim of her glass. "I am afraid senor, that if the Vigilance Committee gets their way I will not be the one building their church. But, perhaps we will just build one of our own. eh? "Something warm and welcoming to all, with lots of windows and doors." Taking a sip of her whisky she sighs in satisfaction. "You are correct Senor Jake almost as tasty as Bourbon and rib eye." She puts her glass down and picks up her fork before she continues in a more serious tone. "I want you all to know how much I appreciate your attendance at services this morning. I realize it was quite" she pauses searching for the right words "difficult for some of you and it was unlike me to take such an approach to garner your support in such a fashion, but I will not apologize for it. I had a great need to fill that room with positive energy... of which you all have much. The other reason I wanted you there is because I have come to trust you all. I took a dangerous stand with the committee this morning and wanted your opinion and your protection if it came to that. It was also easier show you what I had done than it would have been for me to try and explain it. They are such a dark force to combat and I am sure that I am even farther out of favor with some of them now. I do not know what lengths they will go to eliminate me. They have been controlling, narrow-minded and bigoted in their judgments in the past and some of them will continue to be so unless I can either make them understand the error of their ways or remove their power." Minerva sits back and wipes the corner of her lip delicately with her napkin. "So tell me," she says with a crooked smile " what did you think of my sermon? Do you think that it had the desired affect on any of them? "she asks as she chuckles. Nanuet states, "Well if the desired effect was to stir up a hornets nest, then I think you have done admirably well! I am not sure if you sermon will help them to see the errors of their ways or to make them want to be rid of you sooner. I hope it is the former." "That, Senor, was precisely my intent." she laughs delightedly. "I do not wish to wonder how many hornets there are in the nest. They are easier dealt with out in the open." After Nanuet speaks no one else is answering so Jake speaks up. "Don't have your expectations too high, Senorita. Most of these folks only listen when you tell them what they want to hear. It is going to take more than your fiery words to change attitudes in most of them. Take the Doc Eaton for example, he is probably a fine man. He came right out and told me he wanted Ruby and I to move away. We are not the kind of folks they want in their town. You may move some fence sitters, but as long as the committee believes it has the power I don't think they will see any need to change. I don't know most of them very well, so I can't say for sure." Jake enjoys a sip of whiskey before continuing. "In my opinion there are more cattle in these parts besides them at the ranches. Most of the town would follow a leader if the right one came along." He downs the last of his glass and rests it on the table in front of him. "Besides, not everyone believes that the gods motives are always beneficial to their flock. I will honor the gods, Senorita, but my experience is to not always trust them." Minerva turns to Jake. "I am not worried about swaying opinion. Men who speak their mind, like Doc Eaton will do the right thing once they know what it are. They only require guidance. It is those of darker hearts who hide behind their devotion that concern me. As for trusting the gods to do our will Senor, you are wise not to do so. but a clever man would do well to appease them." Chester adds, "Luckily the committee members don't seem the type for violence. But politics, that'll be a horse of a different color. They're the experts and they know the turf better. For what it's worth, you have my support." She replies, "I'll not play the politics game Senor, I will perform the will of the gods with or without a church. Neither the Committee nor a church is necessary to me. But it would benefit the town if those of Mrs. King's ilk could be swayed." Ruby asks, "So, what's everyone doing today?" Kate replies, "I didn't have any particular plans. We don't know what the Cowboy Gang is up to, so we should still be wary. Johnny Ringo won't like what happened yesterday. I have no doubt he'll know who raided their hideout. Otherwise, I think I'll have a talk with Mr. Gonzales and spend some time with Ginnie. And Ruby, if you'd like maybe we could umm... talk later?" Ruby eyes Kate suspiciously for a moment. "It's been a long time since you wanted to talk Kate..." As she looks at her friend she notices a slighter brighter Kate then normal. She must want to talk about Conrad again, Ruby moans to herself. Then her face lightens up as she eats her toast, "But sure, we can talk." Ruby finishes and pushes her plate away, then sips at her whiskey. "How you you think your sermon went, Minerva? Seems like you got a lot of people to sign up and help with the festival." Everyone was finished with breakfast and relaxing around the table. "You know, I'm still hungry. To the Cantina it is." Ruby gets up, gives Jake a couple if kisses then excuses her. "Kate are you coming? We can chat on the way..." Ruby was still weak but saw her friends were worried about her so she was putting on a brave face. "Of course." Kate stood up and went over to Ruby, putting a companionable arm around her waist that just happened to also support her. "Dorita stuffed me full this morning. I was hungry and she took advantage of me. I have no doubt she'll be thrilled to finish filling you up." Kate smiled at the others. "We'll see you all in a little while," she said and headed with Ruby out to the El Parador. Ruby appreciated the support from Kate while they walked. Kate notices as soon as they walk out the door Ruby's posture relaxes and she stumbles a bit here and there. "Too much whiskey" is her excuse. They arrive at the El Parador and Ruby's catches a glimpse of her face in the mirror. "Ugh, I'm pale. Why didn't someone tell me I look like crap? I should have stayed in bed, but I really needed the bath," she sighs. "Maybe a nice mid day nap... Now, where is Dorita?" "Probably in the kitchen," Kate said and steered Ruby toward the back of the room. "Good morning, Dorita," Kate said as she opened the door and followed Ruby in. She pulled a chair into the kitchen for Ruby and let the door close. "Thanks, Kate." Before Ruby sits she hugs Dorita gently. "So I heard your grandfather is back, you must be relieved." Ruby makes an effort to hold her strap up on her shoulder so Dorita can't see her injury. Ruby grabs a muffin off the counter and sits in the chair, taking a big bite. "Yummmyy, my favorite," she smiles. "Anyway, I didn't come just for the muffin, although I would have, these are so good." Ruby glances up at Dorita. "I need some tea. I KNOW you know how to make the ones I want. I need two... tea that gives you... stamina. I would like them for tonight. Have any lying around possibly?" Dorita looks oddly at Ruby, "Stamina? What you mean?" “Stamina, you know, energy, strength, vigor….” Ruby looks at Dorita and smiles. She stands and picks at a plate of food she is preparing on the counter. “You know exactly what I mean, Senora.” Ruby laughs. She wobbles slightly, so she leans up against the table to support herself before picking again at the plate. Dorita smiles and says "I think I know what you mean. I can put together a tea. So sad, Mr. Cook too young to have that problem." Ruby smiles back. "Oh believe me, Mr. Cook does NOT have that problem. As a matter of fact..." Ruby stops herself, realizing she's about to give away very private information. "I appreciate you making me the tea." Ruby hugs Dorita again and whispers in her ear, "And I can use some of that other tea, too, the one Sonoma gave me. Although it's been more in whiskey or coffee than tea." Ruby stands back up straight and giggles. Kate looked at Ruby with one eyebrow raised. She hoped Ruby wasn't planning to try to get back to her usual "activities" too soon. "Than you, Dorita. I'll be back down in a while, I think I'll visit with your Grandfather for a while. Are you ready to go upstairs, Ruby?" "Yes, I'm ready. Getting comfortable would be nice." Ruby grabbed at the plate on the table one final time. She hadn't realized just how hungry she still was. "Oh, I'll stop in for the tea later, Dorita. And thank you!" Ruby followed Kate upstairs to her room. Kate ushered Ruby inside her room and quietly shut the door behind. Ginnie was downstairs, her cot neatly made up. Kate got Ruby settled in the chair by the window. "How are you feeling, Ruby? You should be fine, but your blood is thin right now. More food, less whiskey. Just for a day or two." Ruby pulled her feet up underneath her on the chair. "I'm ok." Ruby saw Kate's face and smiled, "Ok, you don't believe me. I will be ok, how is that?" Ruby let her long hair down, trying to shake out the dampness. "I'm tired," she said, and Kate could see the weariness in her eyes, "And actually, pretty scared." Katherine sat on the edge of Ginnie's cot and took Ruby's hand. "Yes, you will be all right, just take care of yourself. It's easier to get sick when you're already weakened. What are you scared of, Ruby?" she asked gently. "Sick? I hadn't thought about that. It was just really scary to be laying there, I mean, I didn't think I was that bad off. Then all of a sudden it just got worse and I was having a hard time breathing and it was so ... cold." Ruby sighs. "I never told you, I almost died once before, someone, well, someone beat me really bad." Ruby looked away from Kate with a faraway look in her eyes. "But that time I didn't care if I died, maybe I even hoped for it. This time I was really sad, of what I was leaving behind. You, and Nanuet and Chester, even Minerva and..." she paused for a long moment, "and Jake. I felt like I was being kept here by sheer will, and I had only moments left before Nanuet saved me." Ruby shuddered. "It was just very scary." She laid her head back on the chair and smiled at Kate. "But I'm here now and we're not here to talk about me." Kate says, "It doesn't matter why we're here, we can always talk about you, Ruby dear. We were scared too. Hopefully that will never, never happen again, but don't underestimate what a bullet still inside is doing to you. Better to be healed than take the chance." Kate smiled softly at Ruby squeezing her hand for a moment before she walked to the window where she stood with the sunlight setting her hair to glowing. "I wanted to tell Nanuet, but with Miss Florencia and Miss Shaw there.... Storm came to me last night because she wasn't traveling alone." Kate turned her face to Ruby. "She brought Tom with her." "Tom?" Ruby furrowed her brows for a moment then a memory came rushing back to her. "Oh, I think I saw him! The night before ... when I used a spell... I saw Storm she told me Nanuet and Chester were still alive, she had someone with her, a man. But I was so distracted..." Her voice trailed off as she looked at Tom's picture. "It was him." She looked up at Kate and said in awe, "So you got to speak to him?" A smile broke across Kate’s face even as she blushed. "Yes. You remember how Storm was when we protected the Earth spirit, how she was solid? He was here, Ruby. We talked about how he had gotten trapped here by people who wouldn't let him go, and about how Storm was taking him to a better place than Hades to rest. And then we didn't talk at all," she said, turning scarlet. Ruby furrowed her brow again in puzzlement. "What do you mean Kate? I mean, I hear what you're saying, but while I saw Storm looked solid, she was still, well ... dead. How did he get trapped? And what do you mean you didn't talk at all? I'm confused." Kate replies, "When someone dies, their soul moves on to the afterlife, unless someone is holding on to them. At first, Colby Tucker wanted to believe it was all a bad dream, so Tom's spirit was tethered to Tombstone. Then I arrived and spent those three months trying to forget he was dead, and I held him there. I finally came here, but every time Morgan Earp saw me his guilt got worse and tied Tom back to the place where he died. Storm said she had seen his spirit following me every time I went to Tombstone, it's how she knew who he was." "Poor Tom, that sounds horrible." Ruby lets Kate continue. "Yes, Storm was still dead, and Tom is as well." Kate paused and took Ruby's hand again. "Ruby, you remember how it stormed when we had Storm with us? Just like the storm last night? It took the power of gods to bring him to me. The gods of the Apache and the wood elves, and the goddess Diana. They gave him a real physical body, and we ... well, we didn't waste the time talking." Ruby pulls her hand away from Kate. "Are you feeling ok? I think I hear what you're telling me but..." Ruby is quiet for another long moment. "I don't believe in the gods and I thought you didn't either. I think you dreamed this, we were all exhausted and beat up, Kate I think you just had a dream, a very strange dream." Kate replies, "I have never denied the existence of the gods, Ruby, just their worthiness of being worshipped. It was Tom's devotion to his gods that moved Diana to intervene. I know the moment Morgan Earp died; that was the moment Tom had to leave, the moment that huge thunderclap sounded. Look around the El Parador, Ruby. The lighting struck three places around this building. You don't have to believe me, Ruby dear. I know how it sounds, but the proof will come. You'll see." Ruby states, "Do you know how it sounds? It's not that I don't want to believe you, but think about what you're telling me. Your dead husband was given a body by the gods so you two could ...sleep together? It had to have been a dream. Gods don't exist." Kate went over and hugged Ruby. "There was more to it than that, Ruby, I..." she stopped. Right now Ruby could never accept the idea that she was carrying a child. "If it was a dream, it was a damn good one," Kate smiled. "Now I've worried you, I didn't want to do that. Maybe you're right, but I never had a dream that made me feel this good." Ruby hugged Kate back and hid her wince at the pull on her shoulder. What a bad spot for a gunshot, she thinks to herself before shaking the thought away. "That's the good thing about dreams, they can be so good, especially if they come true." Ruby laughed to herself. She hadn't had a good dream in as long as she could remember and she didn't believe in them either. "I do hope you're feeling ok, you do have me worried. But I am glad that you saw Tom and felt good about it. And here I thought we were going to be talking about Conrad," Ruby smiled and gave a small laugh. "You do look happy today. After yesterday I am surprised." "So am I. I was very unhappy last night, so much so that I felt sick. I killed a man yesterday, Ruby, and I can never take that back. I watched men burn to death and blown to pieces. And then Miss Florencia and her coercion..." Kate sighed. "How do I explain? Tom's death was so sudden, so unexplained, it's weighed on my mind for a long time. That weight is gone. I know Tom can rest in peace now, and not in Hades, in a place of happiness. It put my mind at rest, and that relief is all I can feel this morning. The worries will not come back. I was a little surprised to hear people making plans for the next few days. The Cowboy Gang isn't through with us. We are in as much danger now as we were yesterday." "We will always be in danger here in Promise City and Tombstone, always Kate, and you would do well to remember that. So unless you plan on leaving you have to deal with it as it comes." Ruby paused and considered her next words carefully. "I didn't say anything to Jake, but I was hoping on our little side trip to Tombstone we might encounter Ringo and can finish this, one way or another. I know it might be foolish of me to think, but I'd rather keep him away from here, away from the Lucky Lady and away from you and the others." "Plus...I want to see George again. I really do feel bad about what happened and it is my fault. I'm not doing well with this guilt thing and Stanley Barker doesn't know if he's coming back or not. No one really knows it, but we do have a history together and George really was one of the only people in my childhood that was nice to me." Ruby smiled fondly, "And he gave me my first kiss." "George seems like a good man, just caught in a bad situation. Someone encouraged him to fall in love with Ruby West, and it's easy enough to do that without help," Kate smiled. "But be careful, he seems a bit... obsessive. He has gotten the idea now that you will not marry him, hopefully your seeing him will not change that. What trip to Tombstone is this? I know you and I were going to go, but this sounds different. I know you want to keep us out of danger, but I don't think we can avoid it, and I don't think it's a good idea to just wait for the Cowboys to come get us. We need to be proactive, and I can't...." She stopped herself before she mentioned her condition. "I don't like the idea of waiting for the Cowboys to pick us off one by one. I think we need to join with the Earps." "Jake is taking me to Tombstone to the theater, he promised he would. This isn't the time for you and I to go, there will be time for that later." Ruby sighed and leaned her head back against the chair, her flawless skin turning pale. "If Ringo is there maybe we can deal with him. But I'm not going to live my entire life in fear of when he'll show up. When he sees what we've done, he'll come I'm sure. We haven't been waiting around for the Cowboys, we rode off and found them. And if they Cowboys have been trying to pick us off one by one they haven't been doing a very good job, have they?" Ruby smiled up at Kate but only briefly. "The Earps are not to be trusted and I don't know they would be any help for us. Jake did go last night and speak to Warren. I don't know what came from that. I don't even really want to think about all this anymore." Ruby smiled at Kate again, this time the smile staying on her face. "But that black stallion I rode yesterday was a good find. I think he's had some training, but will you finish training him for me? He looks young but I was impressed he didn't throw me when that ball of fire came so close." "That's one thing you can say for the Cowboy's horses. No matter what the level of their training, they are used to loud bangs and fire going off around them. Off course I'll finish his training for you, but I'll have to do it soon. Planting time is coming, and lambing time if I understand correctly. We're going to get pretty busy." "I suppose you're right, about the horses." Ruby is quiet again, playing with her hair. "Listen, the other night, when we got in the fight....It's just...You're so busy. You spend all your time at the ranch or with Conrad, or Ginnie, now the school...." Her voice trails off. Ruby continues quietly, "We never get to spend time together anymore. And when we do you talk about Conrad." "I had to keep myself busy. If I didn’t I had time to think, and if I had time to think I thought about Tom or Morgan Earp. I promised you I'd try to get over it, and try I did." Kate stopped and looked away. "You all have your own problems; I don't need to be troubling you with mine. Besides, after Miss Florencia arrived... you all seem so delighted with her... I didn't think you'd miss me much." She was quiet for a moment, her head tilted down. Then she lifted it and said with a little fire, "And I seem to remember several conversations where I was trying to stop you from talking about Conrad." “Kate, Minerva’s only been here what, a week? And yes, she’s nice and you haven’t been around, but it’s silly to think we wouldn’t miss you. As for your problems, weren’t we all involved in helping with this Earp situation, figuring out what happened, defending ourselves against what occurred because of it? It’s what we’ve been doing. That’s what friends do.” Ruby stretches out her long legs, then pulls her skirt up and adjusts her stockings. “As for Conrad, it seemed like a good diversion and I know you really like him, and that’s great. But I didn’t realize he would get more time than me or that he would be your concern when Nanuet and Chester got kidnapped." "I guess things just changed a lot when I moved into the Lucky Lady with Jake.” Kate says, "He wasn't my concern, Ruby. I gave ideas for what to do about Nanuet and Chester, and no one said much about them. They may have been poor ideas, but I offered them. When no one seemed very interested I thought about what I could do myself, since I couldn't seem to help, and that was protect the people at the El Parador, and Conrad counts among them. I eat meals with him because he is there to eat with, and I do enjoy his company. I have spent more time with him this week because he helped me get the building for the school. I didn't want to bother all of you with that; as I said, you have your own concerns. And you are usually busy with something yourself, Ruby. Yes, usually with Jake and you two don't need a third wheel." Ruby says, ”I think we both know Conrad is more than just someone to eat with and there is nothing wrong with that. And Jake and I would have been more than happy to help you with the school, we told you that many times. As a matter of fact, Jake had gone to the bank and taken the money out of his account, in case you needed it.” Ruby adjusts her skirt then stands. “Yes, I suppose we are both busy these days. This being responsible thing sucks.” Ruby ran her hand over her stomach and straightened out the rest of her dress. She pulled the again wayward straps back onto her shoulders and sighed. “I should go, I need to talk to Nanuet and get some rest. I do feel sort of light headed. If you see Mr. Gonzales will you tell him I’ve missed him and I’m glad he’s returned?” "Wait, Ruby. I hate when things aren't right between us, and they don't feel right. I know it's just my foolishness when it comes to asking for help. Just once Jake suggested that a problem of mine wasn't everyone else's, and since then I've tried to avoid asking for any help at all. I know you would help me if I need it, I just take things too much to heart sometimes." She hugged Ruby, then brushed some of the damp hair away from her forehead. "No more being too busy, from now on we make time, alright? I miss you." “Well, Jake wasn’t being very nice that day, was he?” Ruby smiled and hugged Kate tightly in return. “Yes, we should make time, I agree.” Ruby continued softly, “I miss you too. And I’m jealous of Conrad and Ginnie and the ranch getting all your time.” Ruby finally let go of her friend. “Maybe you can give me some French lessons. Ever since we went to New Orleans I’ve been thinking about that singer and wanting to learn some new things. But NO BOOKS! Just talking.” Ruby finally let out a small laugh. "It's harder that way, but we can try. You do look pale, let's get Grant Keebler to walk you back, I don't like the idea of you going alone. I'll come check on you later, and I'll tell Mr. Gonzales you missed him." Kate helped Ruby up out of the chair. "I love you, be careful." "Oh I'll be fine..." Ruby's voice trailed off as Kate continued to talk. Kate noticed Ruby look slightly uncomfortable for a moment, but then recover and stand straight. Ruby inhales a deep breath and then lets it out slowly. "I love you too Kate, you've been my best friend. I know that can't be easy sometimes." "I'm no picnic either, Ruby dear," Kate laughed. She closed the door behind them and watched to make sure Ruby got down the stairs alright. She caught Grant Keeblers eye and nodded toward Ruby, hoping he'd understand and went to see Mr. Gonzales.</blockquote>

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