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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2884713" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 133, “Josephine Marcus”, Tuesday, March 21st, 1882, 9:00 P.M.The two are nestled cozily with their seats pushed together and Jake's arm around her when an usher arrives with a note.   Always happy to meet my fans.   Josie   Jake and Ruby watch the show with a bit of laughing, snuggling and kissing mixed in. After the show is over they stop at the bar and have a drink. Jake asks for some pen and paper and as they enjoy their beverages he writes up a note. Then they make their way over to the stage area and wait for Josie to come out.When the door opens Josephine Marcus notices Jake and Ruby. She lets out a loud explanation "Ruby! It is so wonderful to see you again", even though they have never met. She rushes over and gives Ruby a warm embrace whispering "Play along, we're being watched".Ruby hugs her in return and smiles, "Yes, it's been too long!" She whispers back,"Is there anywhere private we can go?" Then she kisses Josephine's cheek, "We have much to catch up on. Let's go get a drink and start our stories right away. This is my new boyfriend, Jacob Cook."Josie says, "Yes, come with me. Ruby you just have to tell me everything that's happened to you since that night in Omaha." They quickly make their way over to the Lazy Ace Saloon. She leads them through the main room and into a back room. As she shuts the room she whispers "They can't see us in here but could still be listening at the door or the windows." She then exclaims, "Ruby, tell me about what you've been doing this past year!" She gestures for Ruby to speak loudly.Ruby speaks loudly as she describes in detail what she's been up to, mostly talking about Promise City and how she's been performing in her very own saloon every night.   As she speaks she gestures for Jake to take out his note from earlier.  Jake chimes in during the conversation at an appropriate time and says, "Of course I didn't expect you to know Ruby." Then he secretly passes the note to Josie The note reads: We know Wyatt from Promise City. I have some information for him, I don't know how important it is. I don't know if he needs assistance. We will be leaving Tombstone headed back on the stage tomorrow. We will be around town tonight, and are staying at the Grand. He is probably being cautious, you can prove it is me by telling him I said I still prefer poker to faro. Burn this note.Jake says:"It would have been different if I had known you were expecting her."  Josie flips the paper over and writes. "I was with Wyatt this afternoon. He asked about you and Mr. Cassidy. I'll pass on your message. He trusts Kate, the owner of the Grand Hotel, so I'll get a message to you through her."Ruby nods her acknowledgement. "Now Jake and I have some other plans for this evening. What are you doing tonight? And how long are you in town?" Ruby scrawls on the paper,  "Make sure to ask him if he needs anything from us..."  Josie nods and replies, "I'm not sure how long the Acting Company will be in town. Probably until people stop showing up for the show. We usually spend a good month at any one place. Thank you for the offer to go out but I'm rather tired and will probably turn in soon."Jake rises and says, "Well then, we won't keep you. It was a pleasure meeting you."  On the way out, in a voice loud enough so Josie can hear him, he says, "What do you say Ruby, stop by Neil’s saloon and see what is happening there for a little while before we go dancing?" Ruby nods yes and they stroll over to find Neil Cassidy.Arm in arm, one half the owners of the Lucky Lady saloon enter the saloon looking for their friend Neil Cassidy. Ruby spots him behind the bar speaking with his bartender. She and Jake take a seat there and chat about nothing for a while with Neil, not telling him about their private contact with the actress Josie. Jake snaps his fingers as if he just remembered something. "Neil, any idea if somebody in Tombstone has a faro table they might want to sell? We've been thinking to add one." Neil agrees to have his partners ask around for them and see, commenting that with so many saloons in town and how often they open and close there must be one. Then Jake leans in and quietly asks him for a favor. "I'm playing kind of a joke on someone, and I don't want them to find out. I need a big chest full of old books. I don't care what they are, or what condition, because they will never be read. If you could find some kid or somebody that wants to a buck or two collecting a chest full and can keep his mouth shut I would really appreciate it." Jake chuckles and adds, "I'll give you an insight to one of our regular players bluffing tricks for it." Neil smiles subtly and taps his hands together. "Done." His smile gets bigger.  "Here is five bucks for the kid, books and shipping. Don't let anyone know there are books in the chest. Have them shipped to you in Promise City and I'll get them from you there." They chat some more before Ruby starts looking around for a poker game. Neil notices that and says, "Finn wants another try at making his money at poker. Now I would never ask you to lose, but could you quit if you start winning big? If Finn loses his shirt again he's going to be mad at me for inviting you folks over." Jake nods sympathetically, and Ruby says with a charming smile, "Oh, don't you worry Neil, we'll take good care of Finn." On the way over Jake whispers, "Be nice now." Ruby only laughs.  There are a couple of seats still open on a game starting up, and Finn invites them to sit down. Quick introductions are made and the game begins. In the first few hands Ruby plays poorly and looses around $50 mostly to Finn. Jake doesn't makes eye contact with her after those hands but doesn't convey anything. Jake plays even for a while during which time Ruby wins some money back from Finn. The other men's fortunes go up and down rather quickly but no one is close to being out. The play is unispiring, and Jake thinks that Ruby is as bored as he so he forces some bigger pots. Jake, Ruby and Finn were all ahead at this time anyway so Jake figured the risk was low. In a matter of five hands Ruby wins $50 from the bald man with the brown shirt and then loses the same $50 to Jake; Jake has won just over $100 and Finn cleans out one of the other players for almost $150. Finn calls a break, two of the newcomers are wiped out and the third is down only $30 but looks like he feels outclassed at the table. Jake apologizes that they won't be back after break, "Looks like you've shaken off whatever was bothering you yesterday." Indeed Finn was up $172 for the set. Jake didn't mind though he was taking away $134 and Ruby another $43. He'll do better attracting new money if we aren't sitting there, Jake thinks as they leave. "How about some more dancing?" He asks Ruby. "What took you so long to ask?" She asks Jake. They go off in search of music and dancing.   They enter the dancehall and the atmosphere is definitely more exciting than the night before. This place is packed full of people drinking, laughing, playing cards and dancing. There is a band instead of just a piano. They survey the place and decide to stay. Ruby squeezes up to the bar with Jake staying close behind her, resting his hands on the bar around her while they wait. Ruby orders them 4 whiskeys and she turns around to face Jake with one in each hand, her body pressing up against his tightly. “What should we toast to tonight baby?”  "Hmmm, how about the band? May their music sound better with every drink!" They touch their glasses together with a clink before slamming them back quickly, Jake with an audible “Aaaahhhh,” and Ruby with a scrunched up nose. She leans back and grabs the other two. “This should make us both loose enough to dance all night,” she laughs and drinks her second one down. With that she pushes past Jake and bounces out to the middle of the dance floor, waiting for him, laughing and smiling. Jake shakes his head and mumbles, “These are meant to be enjoyed…” then drinks it down, slamming the glass on the bar. He dodges through the crowd to the dance floor, then scoops Ruby up into his arm and lifts her off the ground, spinning her around. Ruby responds by throwing her head back with more smiles and giggles then finally a warm kiss as Jake deposits her back to the ground. With that they start their dance. An hour goes by before they decide to take a break. Sweaty and panting they grab some drinks from the bar and head outside for some air. They both sit on the railing of the porch, the loud sounds of the music wafting out the open door. Ruby quietly stares up at the stars for a while twirling her hair around her finger before looking back at Jake. His cheeks are flush, his hair plastered to his forehead in spots and he is staring right at her with his intense, sparkling brown eyes. Ruby gives a little shudder at his stare. She sometimes felt like it could cut right through her into her soul. Jake's eyebrows come together, “Are you cold?” Ruby shakes her head no. “You look very sexy right now baby, you really do,” Ruby says sincerely. “I mean, you’re handsome to start but something about the way you look right now…” She doesn’t finish her thought. It must be the inspiration," Jake replies smoothly, "I am positively strengthened by your mere presence, you kindle a flame in me I cannot explain."  “You know what? I am having fun here but let’s go back to the room, we can play cards and finish off that bottle we have waiting, what do you think?” "Yes, I like it. I have grown weary of sharing your radiant looks with those other jealous eyes," Jake grins and takes her arm, "It is time to have you all for myself."  They stop at the desk and ask the clerk to send up a tray with some light food on it. Once back up at the room they kick their shoes off and set up cards. Ruby reaches up the back of her dress and pulls something out, handing it to Jake. “By the way, this is yours.” "Thanks for carrying that. Hermes, all that weight was wearing me down. I suppose it is light enough for me to carry now?" Jake asks wryly. “Perhaps you should look. I only stole it back from the kid who stole it from you,” Ruby replies casually. “I figured we didn’t need anymore drama so I swiped it back without telling you,” she pauses then giggles, “Or him. Now come on, deal some cards. What should we play for this time?” "Drunk and distracted, bad combination. I should know better. I do know better, which is why most of my money is in the other wallet." He reaches out and pushes the shoulder strap off Ruby's unscarred shoulder and down her arm, leaving her shoulder bare and showing more ample bosom. "Seems I enjoy the distraction too much. I've only ever played cards for money or sex. Seems like you already have all of both from me." He chuckles. "Five dollars ante, bet in fives, five card draw, one draw three card maximum and seven hands. Overall winner gets......" “Anything they want! Since I’m going to win, I want anything I want. If you win you get anything you want. Brave enough for that bet?”   "No! I am not brave. I have never been brave, and will not likely be brave anytime soon. Haven't you learned a bloody thing about me?" He reaches over and opens the bottle of bourbon. "Damned sure of yourself though aren't you? Fool I am, and drunk enough too. I'll take your bet." "And what do you mean you played for sex? You're a naughty boy Jake Cook." "Yes I am a naughty boy and naughty boys don't live on money alone." Jake pours a drink for each of them. Ruby acts shocked, then laughs. “I guess I shouldn’t say anything, that’s how…” her voice trails off as she clamps her mouth shut. She wasn’t going to ruin this moment by running her mouth off again. Instead Ruby narrows her eyes playfully, “You’re just trying to make me jealous. Well, it won’t work this time Mr. Cook. I’m on to you.” Ruby takes a drink from her glass. “I’m not as foolish as I look.” Ruby looks at the cards in her hand. Slightly blurry, she has to squint to see them. She had a plan, and it was a good one. She would let Jake think he was going to win, then come on strong in the end when he wasn’t paying attention any longer. “Hum… I’ll take 2 please,” she hiccups. Jake nimbly handled the cards and kept the game moving along. He was accustomed to being drunk, and could deal even when he couldn't walk. He wasn't sure if he could in fact walk right now. But he was winning, pleasantly drunk and enjoying the company. He thought about cheating, but the cards were coming his way. He laughed at the pouting expression Ruby feigned when he won the first two hands but inside thought she is up to something. Then he thought that he didn't really care. So far her plan was working. Due to her being really good at cheating or just plain old drunk Ruby had lost the first two hands and tied Jake the third. Now was the time to make her move. “Daaarrrrling…,” she purrs, leaning way over the cards towards him making a good show of her cleavage, “I need more…” she bites her lip, “…Bourbon!” She holds her glass out, quite aware of the effect she was having on Jake. He reaches to pour but positions the bottle just short of her glass making her lean just a little farther forward. "That's better," he says. "You look crooked my dear," and with that reaches forward and knocks the other shoulder strap onto her arm. "Much better." Ruby plays dumb with a smile, “Now that my glass is full, yes, much better.” She slowly sits back and looks at her cards. She has a heart flush to the queen, her favorite card. “Baby, you can’t win this hand,” she says confidently throwing her cards down on the bed.   Jake looks at her cards and laughs heartily. “You’d be right if that 10 was a heart and not a diamond.” “What?” Ruby picks up the 10 and puts it right up to her nose. It was a diamond and not a heart. “Dammit!” she swears, throwing it down, this time with a real pout. “Deal again!” she commands. As Jake deals Ruby gets her composure back and puts the smile back on her face. “I did that on purpose, just letting you think you have a chance,” she says sweetly. “Now let’s see…” She looks at her cards again, this time making very sure she knows what she’s got. She watches Jake’s eyes and can see they are getting unfocused. She glances at the bottle, half full. She looks back to her cards and starts tapping her lips with her finger as she tries to decide what to do. “Hum…hum… is it me or is it getting hot in here?” she asks as she lets her fingers slide down her neck and end on her breast. She pulls slightly at her dress, “It IS getting hot in here…” Jake watched her fingers and felt his own temperature rise. I am going to enjoy this so much, he thinks, and she is so good at this I am tempted to let her win. Even as drunk as he was, the devious little voice that lived deep inside him still spoke clearly and enticingly. Ruby saw the leer of a smile that sprang to his face and was sure that she had him. Jake swallows and says, "Mighty darn hot, I agree. Why don't you crack open a window and loosen that pretty dress of yours." “I think I will,” she answers, still moving her fingers, “But first,” Ruby continues, “I’m going to win this hand.” They throw down their cards and Ruby is right, she does win. At this point she is down $80 from where she started $160 away from Jake. She gets a cocky smile then stumbles off the bed to the window. As she opens it a blast of cool air comes in, sending her long hair flying around her. She giggles then turns back to Jake. As she walks she loosens the ribbons on the front of her dress but doesn’t remove it. “There, that should help.” She continues in an innocent voice, “But didn’t you mention that you were hot too?” She suddenly reaches out and rips Jake’s shirt open, button popping and flying everywhere. “There, that should help,” she repeats to Jake with a grin. She bounces back into her chair, taking her seat across from Jake. When Ruby was opening the window Jake quickly counted his money, twice. Then in his fuzzy brain he counted the hands they had played; one, two, three, four, five. Good, that only leaves two more. Is that right? Five and two is seven, right! "I should really take these boots off, my poor feet would sure feel better. Besides," he says looking at her daringly exposed flesh, "I don't think I'll be needing them soon." Jake takes another sip of his bourbon and slouches in his chair without making a move to take the boots off.  “You don’t need them now silly.” Ruby gets out of her chair and kneels down in front of Jake. She puts her hands up his pant leg and, wrapping her warm hands around his leg, slowly pulls his boots off, one at a time. She looks up at Jake from under her eyelashes before rising leisurely from the floor. While Ruby is seductively removing his boots, he is momentarily entranced. Gods! She is astounding! Focus Jacob, focus, he tells himself, you'll get to that soon enough. No, the other lustful voice inside says, now is not soon enough! It will be worth it says the devious voice, it will be worth it. Jake arranges his money in three piles from right to left; $30, $40 and the rest. He does this subtly and surreptitiously. All you have to do, you worthless sot, is lose what is in each pile in order, think you can do that? Ruby bends and turns so seductively that Jake's tongue seems to swell in his mouth. He wants her so bad it hurts. She adjusts her gown and, satisfied that it’s hanging off just the right amount, Ruby sits and continues with the next hand. Jake is obviously barely paying attention to the cards anymore and she easily wins the next hand, leaving only a $50 difference to make up for the last hand. “Alright baby, are you ready for the last hand? Don’t forget the winner gets anything they want!” she hiccups. “I wonder, what am I going to ask for?” She runs her fingers through her hair, leaving it fluffy. "Let your imagination run wild girl." Jake says chuckling. Just count the bets, he thinks, to Hades with the cards. Come on Jacob just make sure you leave enough to call with from the pile on the right.  The final hand is dealt and both Jake and Ruby are having trouble comprehending what’s in their hands. A smile comes to Ruby face when she finds the Queens of Hearts. “Baby, baby...” Ruby sings, “Baby… what am I going to ask of you when I win?” Jake is really focusing, she can’t tell if he’s looking at his cards or her breasts. She laughs, “Come on, don’t be shy, bet all your money. You already said I have all your money and all your sex, you might as well give them both freely.”  Jake asks for one card, not even really looking at what is in his hand. He just wants the card game to be finished. He is only paying attention to Ruby and his last bet. "I've got you this time." he says with a wide happy grin. Ruby shakes her head at Jake. “No you don’t!” Another loud hiccup slips out of Ruby’s mouth surprising her. She giggles and touches her fingers on her lips again, “Ooppsss. I may have drunk too much tonight. No matter, I’m about to win anything I want from you, Mr. Cook.” She leans forward, placing her cards down on the table, a full house, Queens over Jacks. Her dress start falling off but she quickly grabs it and holds it up with one hand. “Well, let’s see your cards…” Licking his lips, Jake throws down his hand. Ruby looks at it, “Ha! You don’t have anything! And look at my hand Queens over Jacks.” Ruby is practically bouncing off her seat. “I won.” "You won," Jake says feigning disappointment in his voice. At least he thinks he is. "Here you go," he says pushing the $80 pot towards her. He tries hard not to smirk.  Ruby jumps up, takes the money and throws it up in the air, letting it fall like leaves to the ground. As she watches it fall she tilts her head and looks at the money curiously. “Hey wait a minute… did you cheat?” She glances at Jake’s raised eyebrow. “You did that on purpose! You didn’t bet all your money so I would lose!” She puts on a real pout and as she stands in front of him. “Ok, ok... you win,” she says slowly, “You were right, you GOT me. Now what are you going to ask for, since you can ask for annnnyyytthhiinnnggg?” He stands up a bit unbalanced, almost surprised that he can stand. He comes up behind Ruby and wraps his arms around her mid section and presses his body close to hers. He can feel her warmth and the faint smell of flowers in her hair. Focus, Jacob, focus. He lets his hands wander down her legs and then up the side of her torso before going back down her arms. He pulls her hands up to her shoulders, kissing one hand and then the other. "Anything I want, but there are so many things I want from you. I must tell you I want all of them very badly right now." Without releasing her hands he begins kissing her neck. "Since I should decide before I can't think of anything but you, I'll take this," he says his fingers holding the ring on her right hand. A gasp escapes Ruby’s lips when his body touches her. She closes her eyes and lets her head fall back onto Jake’s shoulder, exposing more of her slender neck to him. As he kisses her neck she practically purrs. She reaches back with her left hand, putting her fingers in Jake’s hair. She opens her fingers on her right hand without hestitation, letting Jake slide the ring off her finger. She tries to speak, but it’s getting harder to do anything but give into the sensations running up and down her body. “But what are you going to do with it? Why do you want it?” He quickly slips the ring onto his little finger, and then returns his attention to running his hands over Ruby's slightly shivering body. "Why?" He says between long slow kisses. "I'm hoping you'll want to win it back," he lied with ease. He then pushes the loosened dress top down to her waist. "Enough talking," he whispers breathily into her ear. As Jake pulls her clothes off Ruby practically collapses from the desire coursing though her. Her knees feel weak, her arms are like jelly, her entire body feels like it is melting. She turns and grasping Jake’s neck so she doesn’t collapse, desperately kisses him, her lips and body practically begging him to take her. She quickly discovers that begging is not at all necessary as he clumsily removes the rest of their clothes and pushes her to the bed. Rapacious and drunk, passionate and urgent, they collapse together on the bed. Amid the gasps and moans, the torrid flame that is Ruby West and Jake Cook burns feverishly for a while before the room is quiet.</blockquote>

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