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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2813817" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 116, “Surprises at the Ranch”, Monday, March 20th, 1882, 11:00 A.M. The ride out to the ranch is uneventful. All three animals appear to be excellent animals and are not at all tired from the trip, despite two having more than one rider. What the group sees when they arrive far exceeds their expectations. It has only been a few days since they have left and it is hard to imagine that this is the same ranch. There appear to be three times the number of animals than they last saw. In addition to the twenty-nine sheep last there fourteen lambs are running about. Of the original twenty cattle four have given birth to calves. Another penned off area has all of the newly acquired cattle from the farmhouse. And there are now three horse corrals rather than one. The first corral has the horses from before and the new ones from the farmhouse. The second corral has eleven horses, seven of the size, breed and markings as that which Naki-Yai is riding and four more black Arabian stallions matching the pair they are riding on. The third corral has the horses belonging to the party that had been left at the Shaw ranch as well as six more belonging to Emery Shaw and five of his Ranch hands who are busy helping Flint put up wooden fencing rather than ropes around the various corrals. Nanuet says, "Well it sure looks like this place has been busy. I am sure to get a scolding from Sonoma for not being around more to help!" Sonoma and Gonzales walk out to greet the others. Emery and Flint also head over, Flint and Naki-Yai embracing one another. Emery says "I don't see my daughter with you. Is she still in town?" "Yes," Kate said absently as her eyes roamed over the changed ranch. "Yes, she's in town. We didn't see her this morning or we would have brought her out. Sonoma, this is miraculous. So many changes.... Mr. Gonzales," Kate smiled as he came forward and helped Ginnie down. Katherine followed her to the ground and embraced her teacher. "There is much to talk of." "Mr. Shaw, thank you for your help. You have been more than generous, even helping here. I'm sorry... I'm a bit overwhelmed." Emery replies, "Well, my boys and Flint brought the new animals out yesterday. When they got back to the Bar-S they said that what you had set up here was sufficient for what you had before, but not with all of the new animals and the other new horses that Mr. Gonzales brought. So we decided to ride back here and help turn this into a proper ranch." He pauses and then says, "And I also came to fetch my wayward daughter." Kate replies, "Yes, with the new silver strike lumber was scarce, we had to get along as we could until demand slowed. I saw your daughter last night at the Lucky Lady. You could either go there, or return with us later and we can take you. I expect we'll be here most of the day though. Are there any cattle left we still need to return to their proper owners?" "There probably are but it's hard to tell now. We pulled out the ones that we knew the brands for. Today I've noticed that the brands on the other ones are now gone, crazy that, but I guess what's done is done. Plus the County Sheriff is probably too busy now to be bothered with looking at cattle. Not sure if you heard yet, but there was some trouble in Tombstone." He pauses and says, "As long as my daughter is fine then I guess I'm in no rush. We might as well finish the work we started here. Plus it will give my oxen a chance to rest after hauling those heavy wagons of lumber." He gestures behind him and around the hill where she now notices eight oxen grazing in a field around a quarter mile off. He says, "So later today is fine. Miss. West had invited me to visit her saloon and my boys probably will deserve a night on the town after all this. I imagine there aren't too many places in the town where we'd be welcome, what with two of my workers having elvan blood in them." Nanuet and Minerva trot up to the others. Nanuet hops off the horse and then helps Minerva dismount. "Hello Flint, I am sure you remember Miss Florencia. Mr. Gonzalez, Sonoma, how are you? I don't believe you have met Miss Minerva before. She is the new priestess in town." "We heard that Morgan Earp had been killed. We had some trouble in Promise City as well, a prisoner who is a member of the Cowboy Gang. Someone took some shots at the jail. I believe they are moving the prisoner to Tombstone today. But on a lighter note, you will be most welcome at the Lucky Lady, as well as the El Parador should you stop there. As you can see, I wouldn't be much help with fence building, but I should have a look at those horses. That's my job around here. Thank you again, Sir. You've been a kind friend. Ginnie, why don't you take our lunch basket into Sonoma's house. And you had some things to collect for your studies, yes? Just don't go off on your own, come back to us if you can't find someone to go with you and one of us will. Mr. Gonzales, would you care to come with to the horse corrals?" He answers, "Certainly my little sandpiper. Come take a look at the new acquisitions, I need your opinion about one of them." "Am I to teach you again? That didn't go so well last time," Kate smiled as they walked, leading the horses. He replies, "Oh, I've had a lot more experience since then." He shows her the horse in question, a brown mare. "I rode her for nearly seventy miles from New Mexico. My little bird Morgana spoke to her first and that seemed to help. Morgana says that she is mine if I wish to keep her. I'm inclined to say yes but wanted you to check her first." Kate says, "I'm to tell you from your Granddaughter to stay put. Your bad habits have been keeping her up at night." He says, "Oh, well, I do have one more trip to make this week, but it should be far less dangerous. I'll go back to town first to reassure her fears. The errand can probably wait until at least tomorrow." She let her light tone slide away. "There is a great deal to talk about. Some you must have heard from Mr. Shaw about our latest run-in with the Cowboys. But there is a great deal more and it will probably take some time. I'd like to hear what you've been up to. And where did all these beautiful horses come from? They are not ours, so I assume we are taking care of them for someone?" He replies, "Spoils of war, just like the ones you brought in. These didn't come from the Cowboy Gang though. Some French wizards brought them in from the Sahara desert. The mares were with the French Foreign Legion and the stallions belonged to some Arab allies of theirs. Only one Legionnaire survived the battle and he has chosen to remain here, so that shouldn't be an issue. A half-dozen Arabs did manage to escape but they rode off in the direction of Mexico so I doubt we'll see them here again. So these new mounts belong to Arcade's Gang. Morgana suggested that they be left here at Sonoma's Ranch. She is hoping that in lieu of boarding fees you might be able to work out an arrangement to use the Arabian stallions for stud purposes, as their offspring would be of excellent stock." Kate answers, "Oh yes, I believe that can be arranged. I had not dreamed to have such horses to begin with. The value in the future will be far greater than any boarding fees we could have charged. Now, let me take a look at your mare here." Kate began to look carefully over the animal. "She seems fit as far as I can see. In a little while I can run her through her paces, see how her training is. But my first instinct is that she's a worthwhile girl." Kate paused and looked at her teacher. "I wish you didn't have to go away again. But I suppose what must be, must be.” He replies, "This should be the last trip for a while, and it is only a short errand, a few hours at the most. We need to speak to a businessman down in a city down in Mexico. Once that's done I plan to stay put in Promise City. Honest. Kate says, “There is a great deal I wish to tell you. Could we go for a little walk?" He answers, "Yes my dear, I would like to hear what you have been up to." Kate took her teacher's arm and walked with him away from the busy part of the ranch. "Some of this you already know," she began and then launched into the same story she had told Dorita the night before, leaving out nothing. "Ringo has started his war, and it seems Morgan Earp is the first casualty. I don't know what to feel about that. We cannot stay out of it. We killed a great many Cowboys getting Nanuet and Chester back, I'm sure Ringo will consider that a choosing of sides. Jake and Ruby have gone off to Tombstone to see what they can find out.” Kate pauses and says, “I would like your permission to show Ginnie your rooms. It is too soon, I know, but I may need to hide her in them." He replies, "Oh I quite agree." And with a grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye he says, "It may be too soon for you but probably not for her." Kate answers, "I can barely keep up with her as it is. We'll have to keep a sharp eye on her." She was quiet for a moment but it was obvious she wasn't finished speaking. "The night we got back, Storm Golden Eye spoke to me, and she brought Tom." Kate's eyes shone. "If I tell you something, will you promise me to keep it between us?" He says, "Of course I will keep your confidence, I'm surprised you would even ask." "Well, it's the kind of confidence that some might think they were doing better by me to tell others." She paused. "Depending on what you believe about gods you may just think I'm crazy. When Storm brought Tom, he was like she has been sometimes. Solid. I could touch him, feel him... and we took advantage of that," she said blushing. "His spirit was held here by those who wouldn't let him go, the last being Morgan Earp. We were together until the moment Morgan died, and then he was gone. Storm has taken him to a place of her people. I'm sorry, I'm babbling. I spoke with Storm again... after. She told me that more had happened than just a way to say good-bye. A gift from the gods. I'll need your help. I can't avoid the danger we're already in, and I need you to help me protect Tom's son." Gonzales remains quite while Kate speaks but his face take on a number of different expressions. "Tom's son....hmmm. Not many people would believe that story but in my eight centuries on this planet I've learned that stranger things have happened. The gods and the spirits can do many things. Within the last two weeks a massive island with an ancient city rose to the surface of the ocean and with my assistance is now back deep beneath the waves, and that too was done through the assistance of the gods. Actually the protection of a child can be easily accomplished, I in fact have magic item that will accomplish just that, namely the magical rings that you've seen Angelica and Pepita wearing around the Cantina. Given their occupations there is always the possibility that they could find themselves with child so we have let them borrow the rings. It was very helpful during both of Angelica's pregnancies. But my little birds take priority over friends of my little birds, and Sonoma knows a spell that will prevent pregnancies from occurring, so that would be a non-issue. Of course, asking one of them for the ring back and them then seeing it on you, well, they and a few others around the Cantina would be able to figure our why. But we can ask them to keep that knowledge to themselves." Kate replies, “I had hoped to keep it to myself for a little while, it's a rather pleasant secret to have, but safety has to be my first concern. I'm not quite sure I even believe it yet. Once I feel different, perhaps then it will truly sink in. I suppose the townsfolk will come up with their own explanations for how this happened. Don't worry, I never planned to try to get them to believe this child is Tom's. I only hope to convince my friends. I suppose Dorita is one of the people in the Cantina who knows what the rings do?" He smiles and says "Of course, one of them was her's. But she also has a special knack of recognizing a maternal glow, usually long before the woman herself knows that she is expecting, so I doubt this will come as any surprise to her." "It's only been a day and a half! I doubt she knows quite yet. She didn't mention it to me last night." Kate sighed. "She's going to boss me around terribly, isn't she?" He smiles and asks, "Was that a rhetorical question?" Kate then asks, "Will she be able to believe me, or will she be trying to find out who fathered this baby?" He replies, "Oh, I'm sure that she'll believe that Conrad Booth is the father, but if you tell her otherwise I'm sure that she will humor you and pretend to go along with whatever you tell her." Kate stumbled to a stop. "Conrad! I hadn't even... She's not the only one that will think so, either. But he'll know he's not. There has been nothing between us, but I know he hopes and I have told him that I'm not ready. He'll believe I lied to him. He'll be so hurt, and if he won't believe the truth there will be nothing I can do to ease it." "Pretend to go along with whatever I tell her?" He replies, "Yes, she's good about things like that." Kate nodded. "We should go back, I suppose. Dorita is a worry for this evening, and Conrad....The Cowboys are the immediate worry. For now we are going to gather what information we can. Can you think of anything else we can do?" He replies, "At the moment, no. In the meanwhile, I believe that I should talk to that Minerva, and out here is a private enough place for a conversation. She hasn't met me as myself yet and she won't be meeting Tex again, yet he did make her a promise that I'd like to follow though on. Does she know that you and Ruby's use of wizard magics?" Kate replies, "Yes. Over the last few days it was necessary, and she remembers persecution well enough not to wish it on others. She may also know who our teacher is." Kate met his eyes. "I'm sorry, I was careful not to mention your name, but the others asked if you could help more than once and she is clever." He says, "Just as well, she'll have to find out eventually if I ever hope to....well...never mind. There's enough to worry about right now with the Cowboy Gang. To save time why don't you just introduce me to her as your teacher and the truth behind our previous meeting." Nanuet turns to Minerva. "Why don't you spend some time with Kate, I would like to help the men here with their work." Turning to Mr. Shaw, "That is if they could use another pair of hands. It's the least I could do to show my appreciation for your help." Shaw replies, "Your help would be appreciated." He brings Nanuet over to the men and says "You've already met Calvin Hardy, Raphael Garcia and Jeff Hummel. The other two here are Jim Crawland and Billy Black Crow, this is Nanuet." Black Crow appears to be of Apache descent. Nanuet walks over to each of the men offering to shake each of their hands. He wastes no time getting to work helping the men with the fence and any other work they have. Kate squeezed his arm and led him back toward the buzz of activity. Nanuet was helping the men from Shaw's ranch and Miss Florencia was standing outside one of the horse corrals, peering inside. When she looked over her shoulder Kate waved her over. They were still quite far from the others when Minerva reached them. "Miss Florencia, may I introduce my teacher, Mr. Manuel Gonzales? Professeur aimé, Miss Minerva Florencia. Miss Florencia, you've met my teacher once before. In fact, you'd met me before Ruby introduced you to Katherine Kale. Do you remember a Miss Madeline Anders and her companion Tex?" "Buenas dias, Senor," the priestess says with a slight curtsy. "You are Senora Kale's professor?" Minvera wears a very pleasant and polite smile but her eyes show a certain suspicion. "Si Senora, I remember meeting them. They were very warm and gracious towards me." Kate says, "It wasn't safe for Katherine to be out that night, so my teacher gave me another identity. May I also introduce you to Tex again?" Minerva turns to Senor Gonzales the polite smile still pasted on her face. "These damned wizards are popping up all over the place. she thinks. Ah, Well, hmmm. she shakes his hand but there is no warmth in it. She is unable to hide the slightly sarcastic anger in her words "Would it not have been simpler to just spend a pleasant evening embroidering, Katherine?" She replies, "I don't embroider. If I had stayed in that night I would have driven myself crazy with worry." Kate consciously forced her body to relax. "I'll leave you to your business, Professeur aimé. I have work to do." With that Kate walked quickly back toward the horse corrals. I almost forgot what that woman is, she berated herself as she went to find her teachers new horse and put it through it's paces. Minerva looks the professor up and down. "I seem to recall that Tex made the church quite a generous offer that evening. Does he intend to abide by it or was that also part of your deception?" Take a little aback by the polite rebuke he pauses. Then attempting a smiles says "Many apologies, I had not meant to deceive you dear woman. That particular evening Katherine was in need of both company and a night off from her regular responsibilities, so the change of appearance seemed to be in order. 'Tex' had every intention of making a return but the particular piece of magic that created him no longer functions that way. However, I have done as I said I would. I have found some very interesting objects for your church. There are currently right here on this ranch, in Sonoma's house, if you would like to take a look at them now." When she hears the sincerity in his apology, Minerva's smile warms several degrees. "I accept your apology Senor." She says with a slight curtsey. "Forgive my abruptness also. I do not care overly for deception no matter how innocent the intent may be but it is reassuring that you are a man of your word and are willing to make good on Tex's offer. Please lead the way." she says and lightly places her arm though his. Ginnie comes running up to Kate at breakneck speed. "Ma'am Kate Ma'am Kate We have a gold mine right here on the ranch so far I've been able to identify six different plants that can be used for things we need and one of them makes candy too!" "I'd say the candy is the most important part!" Kate smiled. "When we move here you're going to have to teach me to make some. Why don't you show me these plants?" Kate said, shooing the horse back into the corral and carefully latching the gate. Some time with Ginnie should brighten her mood again. Ginnie pulls Kate over to a plant that to her looks like every other cactus she has seen since she moved to the west. “This may be the most important one we have on the ranch that I know for sure right now! It's called a barrel cactus the pulp makes the candy but it also has magical uses too. The sharp hooked spikes can be used in spells that make people or things stay put and pieces can be dried and ground for spells that have things to do with directions because the cactus always leans south when it grows. I've started to collect the fallen spikes and have them in this labeled jar but be careful because they are very sharp. There was more about the spikes being used in spells that required sharp things but I'm not fully comfortable with my translation yet to be sure. I also want to be careful of how I gather this stuff because I don't want to destroy the plant but at the same time I need to make sure that the pieces have the full potency. But I have all my notes in this notebook but you may not be able to read it because I put it in code just in case.” "I'm glad you want to take so much care with this, Ginnie. And right now you know much better than I do. I've been thinking of putting up a small building here for this kind of work. My studies in chemistry and the little bit of medial knowledge I have should explain it being here. Chemistry makes smoke and sometimes explosions. You don't do it in the house." Kate paused for a moment. "We're rich girls, you know that Ginnie? A house here, a house in town, all the books we could want and the time to study them, and lots and lots of friends." Nanuet continues working with Shaw's men making sure to learn as much as he can when they work on something he doesn't know how to do. He seems to get along well with the others and they sing songs to help pass the time.</blockquote>

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