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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2915382" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 139, “I wish I was homeward bound”, Wednesday, March 22nd , 1882, 1:00 P.M.Ruby says, “Let's go find Josie."  They make their way over to the theater. They stop at the bar for a drink and again ask for a pen and paper. This time Ruby writes a note. As she does she asks the bartender to please tell Josie that her friend Ruby is here to say good bye. He leaves to find her.Josephine Marcus comes out of the back room and invites Jake and Ruby to join her. They head into the room where two other members of the acting company are present, a handsome young male actor who she introduces as Mr. Fabian and a costume/script girl named Hannah Powers. She introduces them to Ruby and Jake, explaining how she and Ruby once acted together with a company in Omaha, Nebraska. While Hannah and Fabian engage Jake in conversation at normal to high sound levels Josephine and Ruby move a short distance back for a short conversation.Ruby says loudly, "My dear Josephine, Jake and I will be leaving today so I wanted to say goodbye. It's been so good to see you and other friends." Ruby leans in and hugs Josie, whispering in her ear. "Wyatt is very concerned about you. Behan is involved in the Cowboy Gang and he asks that you leave Tombstone as soon as you can." Ruby pauses but stays close. "He really cares about you, Josephine." She gives her a squeeze, then lets go, standing up straight. "I am so jealous. While I love singing on the stage, I really wish I was acting, I wish I could be as good as you!" Ruby laughs. "We're having a festival in Promise City and the local Priestess is a friend. If you have the chance maybe you'd like to stop by, perhaps even participate. The Priestess wants a play but I'm not sure I'll have enough time to prepare one. She'll have to do with my singing. Anyway, it's next weekend, if you get an opportunity."Josie replies, "Next weekend? I'll talk to Pauline Markham about having the Entertainment troop make a visit there for the festival. I'll send you a note if she agrees."  "Oh!" Ruby impulsively hugs Josie again. "That would be wonderful! And we could spend more time together, our visit here was so short." As she hugs her Ruby deftly slips the previously written note into her pocket, which reads:Josie, Please heed Wyatt's words and leave Tombstone as soon as you can. I have admired you for a long time and would be devastated if anything were to happen to you. The Cowboys mean business and they will stop at nothing to get what they want. No one is safe. I meant what I said about the show, it IS wonderful and you are a great actress, I admire you and your talent. Take Care. Love, Ruby West PS Feel free to contact me anytime at the Lucky Lady in Promise City.Ruby says, "Well, it is time for us to get going unfortunately. The show is wonderful, good luck with it and I hope to see you soon."   She says goodbye. Ruby and Jake make their way back to the Grand Hotel to collect their luggage as it is almost time to board the stagecoach.Ruby and Jake head upstairs to gather their belongings. Ruby places the tiara back in her pocket and without a word hands Jake the black velvet box for the diamond ring. She keeps her single rose behind her ear and gathers up her bunches of roses and carries them herself. Jake carries the weapons pack, everything else they leave for the valet.   Jake stops at the desk and pays up with the clerk. Then they head to the coach.While they are walking but before they get to the stage Jake says to Ruby, "I especially enjoyed myself here with you, I'm glad we did this. Would you come back with me again another time?"  Ruby takes Jake's hand as their continue to walk. "You know, I hadn't decided if I was returning back to Promise City until yesterday. Nanuet had said something to me to make me reconsider after he got shot but it wasn't until I spent the day with you yesterday that I really realized it." Jake gives her a sideways glance, "Realized what?"  Ruby smiles. "Realized I couldn't leave if I wanted to. Between you and them, our friends, I can't leave. I just wish my brain would understand that already!" Ruby gives Jake a small peck on the cheek, trying to remain balanced as they walk and she holds her armful of flowers. "Of course I'll come back with you, anytime you want."The Wells Fargo Stage is sitting in its usual spot for the return trip to Promise City. Chuck Nevers and Newton Gilly are busy loading luggage onto it. The entire top and rear are stuffed full of trunks, suitcases, boxes, crates, a few small pieces of furniture and a wire basked with two live chickens.  Roger Fly and Neil Cassidy are standing alongside with their travel bags. Neil asks "Should we put our bag insides with us?" Nevers replies, "No room, full trip this time. Pass up your bags and I'll tie them down."They load Jake and Ruby's bags up top too, but she takes her flowers inside with her, gently placing them underneath the seat open. Every once in a while she moves her hand to touch the rose behind her ear.  "Mr. Cassidy, did you find out about that Faro table by any chance?" she asks while climbing inside.  "No, afraid not," he states. Ruby, Jake, Neil and Roger climb in and sit on the available bench on the rear side of the carriage. The front bench is filled with a family, comprised of a woman and her nine children. Seated on the bench are the woman and four teenage children ranging in ages from 13 to 17. Each of the five also have a child in their lap, ranging in age from 1 to 6. All ten have the same carrot-orange colored hair and faces of freckles. Of the nine children the oldest and youngest are boys, the other seven being girls including what appear to be two pairs of twins.Jake tips his hat to the woman, "Afternoon 'Mam." He introduces himself and the others.  Ruby keeps her displeasure to herself as she plasters a smile on her face. She squeezes in between Mr. Cassidy and Jake, trying to get comfortable for the what was now going to be loonnnggggg ride.The woman speaks with a thick Irish accent. She introduces herself as Meghan O'Hara. She then introduces her children in descending order by age as Patrick, Shannon, Cathleen, Colleen, Mary, Caitlin, Kellie, Patricia and Shamus. The door of the stage opens up and Chuck Nevers pokes his head inside. He looks at the bench with Jake, Ruby, Neil and Roger and says, "Better squeeze over, we've got one more." Helen Barker begins to enter the coach and then notices who is inside. She gives the bench with the four adults an angry stare and then says in a voice full of distain "I'll ride up top with the drivers." She leaves and slams the door behind her. "How rude," Mrs. O'Hara exclaims."You have NO idea," Ruby mutters. "Oh my," she says louder with fake sincerity, "I HOPE it doesn't rain."   Mrs. O'Hara says, "I should hope not. Our items would get all wet and take forever to dry. Who exactly was that rude woman? Do you know her?"  "Yes, ma'am, I know her. That is Helen Barker Eastman. Her and her husband Stanley own a photography studio in Promise City."   Roger Fly interjects "I'm afraid that she was rude on my account. I operate a photography studio in Promise City and she does not care for the competition." Ruby asks, "If I might be nosey, why are you coming to our little city?"  She replies, "My husband passed on recently. My brother-in-law Shamus O'Hara works there in the largest of the town's mines. Shamus has spoken to his employers and they have offered my son Patrick a job there as well.""Well, my good friend is starting a school, which no doubt you will be interested in," Ruby smiles. "As for Helen, it's not just Mr. Fly as the competition, she is mad that her cousin fell in love with me. It's caused much discord as of late.   Where will you live?"   Mrs O'Hara says, "I don't know yet. Shamus lives in a boarding house so I doubt they'd have rooms. We'll find something though, Bridgit and Diancecht always provide. Now, this school of your friend, is it a public school or is tuition required?"Ruby replies, "To be honest, I'm not sure. But I'm sure that if tuition is involved something can be arranged, for my friend is very kind hearted and I'm sure will not turn anyone away." Ruby smiles kindly at the woman, for her children are behaving. "We are having a festival next weekend and I believe that some of the funds raised are going towards the new school. Perhaps you can work out an arrangement with Mrs. Kale to help with the festival in exchange for tuition."Mrs. O'Hara replies, "Aye, After my Patty came to America with his brothers and we remained in Ireland I found work at the University in exchange for schooling for the four children that we had at that time. If your friend is willing I'm sure that a comparable arrangement could perhaps be worked out." The eldest girl interjects "Mother, I am old enough to work as well." Mrs. O'Hara replies, "That you are Shannon, although I am not certain what employment there is in a mining town that would be suitable for a young woman such as yourself."Ruby asks Shannon, "Certainly you have some gifts, what kind of things are you good at?"   Shannon replies, "Well, I am fairly good at painting portraits and landscapes, but I doubt there is much call for that in a mining town. Beyond that all I know are the common household skills of cooking, cleaning and sewing as I've helped mother take care of my siblings all of my life.""Sweetie, don't worry. You'll definitely find a job with those skills." Ruby smiles. "And maybe one day you can paint something for me for our Saloon. When we arrive in Promise City let us know where you are staying and we can put you in touch with Katherine Kale."   Ruby settles back in for the ride but refuses to let her tired eyes close.The next two hours of the stagecoach ride proceed in relative quiet. The entire O'Hara family uses the family productively, with the five youngest each using hand-held drop spindles similar in design to a child's toy top to quietly spin wool roving into yarn. The twin thirteen-year old girls hold and read a book together titled "Liberty" by John Mills. Shannon is reading an economics book by the noted Scotsman John Smith. Patrick and his mother hold up a Tucson newspaper that they simultaneously read together. When Meghan and Patrick finish with the first section of the paper Neil Cassidy asks if he can borrow it. They pass it over and he starts to read. A short while later Neil comments "This is interesting. It says that the author Samuel Clemens, who writes under the pen name Mark Twain, will be coming to Arizona next week. He'll be lecturing about his new book 'The Prince and the Pauper' in Prescott on Tuesday and in Tucson on Thursday. He'll then be going on to Albiquerque the following week." Neil pauses and says "You don't suppose that we could wire him an invite to this Festival that the Priestess is holding do you?" Roger Fly says, "I hardly think it would be appropriate. It is a religious festival." Neil says, "I've read his books, he frequently speaks of the Greek and Roman gods." Fly answers, "Yes, but in a sarcastic manner." Neil says, "That's his style, and it's the absurdity of people he is commenting on, not the gods themselves. Twain is also known to enjoy a good party, which is what it sounds like we will be throwing.""Mr. Clemens also enjoys playing poker." Jake states matter of factly.  "It certainly doesn't hurt to ask if he'd like to attend our festivities. And if you know how to ask in the right way you can usually get what you want," laughs Ruby. "We would just need to figure out how to contact him in Tucson."  Ruby looks to Jake, "Won't the priestess be surprised with all the guests we're lining up for her festival? I think we've done our fair share of work. I still have to work on my costume, I haven't started that yet!""I doubt the priestess will be satisfied that we are done working on the festival." Jake leans back with his hat down over his eyes. "Just a hunch."  "I didn't say done..." Ruby's voice trails off as she sees Jake get comfortable. "Humph." I guess our conversation is over...  She wasn't sure how she was going to keep herself awake the next two hours but she was determined.It is 6:00 PM on Wednesday evening when the Wells Fargo Stage arrives in Promise City. Helen Barker immediately climbs off and suitcases in hand marches back towards her home before she has to interact with anybody else on board. Chuck Nevers opens the coach door for the others to exit. He asks Mrs. O'Hara if there is somewhere he can take her to so that her family won't have to drag all of their possessions through the street. She replies "My brother-in-law boards at the Cochice Boarding House so I guess you can bring us there for now." The O'Hara family remains on board while Ruby, Jake, Neil and Roger exit. Newton Gilly helps to unstrap and hand down their luggage. Neil tells Jake and Roger "I'll go inform Burton Lumley that we're back so that he can schedule the Merchant's Association Meeting for tomorrow morning."  Ruby says, "Mr. Cassidy, we'd like to get started building on addition soon, so we'll be needing supplies from you. I've never had to do any of kind of business like this before but I believe it's customary for us to discuss prices?" Ruby gives him a sweet smile.He replies, "Well, I'm not quite up to a night of poker but I'll stop by the Lucky Lady tonight anyway and we can discuss that further. Lumber is in scarce supply these days, what with the Seawell-Morand Mining Company buying most of it up for their mines, but I'll make sure to take care of your needs."  "Thanks Mr. Cassidy, I appreciate that." She nods at him then Ruby and Jake head back to the Lucky Lady.</blockquote>

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