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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 2939284" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 143, “More Advice”, Wednesday, March 22nd , 1882:Katherine had intended to go back to the Lucky Lady with Ruby, but she ran off so quickly she didn't have a chance. Instead she dressed again at the Comstock House, thanked Miss Florencia more warmly than she had spoken to her ever before, then went back to the El Parador. She walked alone, something Jake would not have approved of, but just now she felt very protected. Nothing was going to bother her on this short walk. Once she arrived back at the El Parador Kate went right to the kitchen in search of Dorita. "I've been very foolish," she said plainly when she found her. "So I'm just going to show you something." Kate then took Dorita's hand so the ring was plainly visible.  Dorita smiles and says, "It looks lovely. The stone's color goes well with your eyes."   Kate backed up a bit. "You knew already, didn't you? I had expected... well. A little bit of a fuss, I suppose," she laughed. "I could really use some dinner, I'm starved."  Dorita says, "Not my business to pry....but you will make lovely baby. But you must learn to eat first, glad you finally realize that. Me bring food.""I've been eating just fine for a couple months now," she said and hugged Dortia. "I'm sure you know it's quiet for now. You'll know who around the Cantina will know from the ring, otherwise just your Grandfather and Ruby and the Priestess. I'll need help from you. I don't really know anything about doing this... and I don't think my friends do either. Doing this alone would be hard."Dorita states, "I help you out and Mr. Booth will too. He make a nice father to your baby."  Kate exclaims, "Conrad isn't... It's a long story. I went with Miss Florencia tonight to give thanks for this baby. And I must thank the gods of your people and the Apache as well for giving me a child with my husband. Last Saturday during that storm he was here. I hope that Conrad will help me. Most of the town will believe as you did, and they'll have no reason to believe otherwise. He might choose to stay away from me. It will be a long while yet before it's obvious, he may be able to avoid the suspicion."  Dorita says, "It not my concern who the sire is, I just say that Mr. Booth will make a nice father to the baby. I don't think he will want to stay away from you. He once say that his parents not married to each other, he understand.""Perhaps he will. But that is a worry for tomorrow. For tonight I think I'll just worry about dinner." Kate picked up a plate and let Dorita load it heavily with food. "There. Now all I need is a cup of tea and I'll be all set."   At the kitchen door she turned to look back and said, "Thank you, Dorita." Then she went out into the Cantina and ate her dinner. She even took a turn or two at the piano with Estaban before heading off to bed.The rest of Jake's game passes uneventfully. He bids his players good night and surveys the Lucky Lady. Chester has gone off with Clarisse, but it appears to Jake the new Deputy Marshall was in good spirits. Nanuet was in constant motion, maybe more than usual, keeping himself busy looking after the saloon. Jake waves to him, "Thanks for looking after things. We'll catch up tomorrow." Anxious to speak to Ruby and yet unsure what to ask or if he is ready to hear what the goddess has asked of her, Jake leaves the saloon to find Gonzalez. He arrives at the El Parador to discover the old elf has still not returned. Jake uses the time on the walk back to prepare what he will say to Ruby. Back at the Lucky Lady, Nanuet stays until the last customers leaves.  He helps close the place down for the evening and then heads out to the grove for his nightly rest. He felt better after talking with Ruby, his thoughts were pleasant as he prepared his mind for reverie. Outside the door to their room Jake still doesn't know what to say. The gods hate a coward, he thinks to himself and opens the door. The painful irony of that thought hits him as he sees Ruby on the bed sleeping. He is at once disappointed and relieved.   He goes about getting himself ready for bed quietly as not to wake Ruby. He keeps glancing at her sleeping on the bed to reassure himself that she wasn't sleeping in the white robe. You are a fool Jake Cook, did you really think she would be wearing it to bed? When he can find nothing else to do before climbing into the bed he extinguishes the oil lamp. Moonlight still brightens the room and illuminates Ruby's face. It takes on a peaceful look in sleep, none of her worries, guile or manipulation apparent. Her lovely complexion is heightened in contrast to her hair that covers the pillow around her. That hair which still radiates a deep red hue in defiance of the pale color robbing light that filters through the windows. Jake watches her for a short while, trying to give in to the part of him which was relieved that she was sleeping. He fails. Silver Jake Cook reaches out gently and shakes her shoulder, "Ruby?"Ruby keeps hey eyes shut, but the corners of her full lips rise into a smile as she turns her head towards Jake’s voice. She reaches out for him and after feeling him, wiggles closer to him. “Hi handsome,” she says in a soft, sleepy voice. She finally cracks her eyes open slowly and her smile grows a little wider when she sees Jake looking down at her. Then she comprehends the look of concern on his face and furrows her brows, “What’s wrong baby?”"What's wrong? Er, nothing. I was, uh, just worried about you. You look fine, so what's to worry right?" Jake laughs nervously. "Everything IS fine, right?" "You don't need to worry, everything is more than fine." Ruby runs her fingers through Jake's hair, twirling it around her fingers lazily. "I feel really good. I did what Minerva told me to do, what Aphrodite asked of me. And I will continue to do so."   Ruby gently pulls Jake head towards her and softly kisses him. "I have confidence that she will keep her word and watch over us now, baby." "That's good." He says somewhat hesitantly, "You can't have too many friends in high places." He forces a chuckle. "I noticed you were wearing the same white robe that Minerva wears when she leads the services. What did Aphrodite ask of you? It wasn't anything dangerous or ... um, uh, something that was a big change for you?" “Oh, I just forgot to change when we got back. I was really hungry and I wanted to see you and, well, I was thinking about what just happened, so I left my clothes at Minerva’s” Ruby pauses and turns her head, looking at the perfectly glittering rose on their table. “I don’t think it was too dangerous. We had a ceremony, we being me, Minerva and Kate. We honored the goddesses Minerva, Diana and Aphrodite. We stood in the desert with nothing on but the moonlight and asked them for their guidance and thanked them for their gifts. I thanked Aphrodite for making me in her image, giving me the gift of beauty and song. And they were happy with us, for they gave us a gift in return. Look at my rose.” As Jake turns to look at the rose Ruby continues, “All she asks of me is that I love her the way I love you, to give her a piece of my heart and soul. And to thank her for bringing you into my life I will surely do it.” "Ah, good." Jake seems relieved and confused, "I don't mean just good... You know it's great the you have made peace with the goddess and all... um, oh blast." He climbs into bed with her and covers the two of them and wraps his arms around her. "What I mean is it was hard enough making sure I didn't lose you to a rich man, I didn't know how I would fair against a goddess. No that's not what I mean either.... No, you don't have to say anything. I am just delighted to have you here safe and in my arms and not worried about where you are going next for a change." Ruby snuggles closer to Jake, pushing her nose against his neck, throwing her leg over his hip. “No, you don’t have to worry, I’m not going anywhere. As a matter of fact, you probably couldn’t get rid of me if you tried.” Ruby closes her eyes and enjoys Jake’s warmth for a few moments before speaking. “You know, you never really did have to worry, baby. You know I'm yours." Ruby opens her eyes and looks up at Jake, "Is there something else? You just seem… nervous.” "I was just worrying over nothing," he says and the tension continues to drain from him. "I was just letting my imagination run wild. Let's get a good nights rest for a change, there is a Merchant Association meeting tomorrow and I need to be there. I don't want to think about it tonight. No worries tonight," he finishes and keeps her close. Ruby again closes her eyes and snuggles her face to Jake. "Alright baby." She yawns and continues sleepily. "Do you want me to go with you to the meeting?" Another yawn and she continues even quieter, "Oh and Judge Isby wants to meet me for lunch..." Her voice starts to trail off.  He lets sleep overtake her. We can ignore our worries until the morning.Jake wakes early with the sun, as he usually does when he hasn't been up all night drinking. His stretching wakes Ruby. "Good morning," he kisses her and slips out of bed before she can tangle him up in her smooth arms and legs. "I need to get to the meeting on time. You can sleep in if you want since we only get one voting member for the saloon. It ought to be interesting though, since we need a new marshal. This town is so polarized I'm sure this will be ugly. If you decide not to come, don't go too far. I bet you'll need to know what happened." Ruby stretches her long legs and watches Jake start to dress with a dreamy look. As he does she starts rambling on, ignoring his comments about the meeting. “Baby, I had a dream last night,” she says with a small smile, “I want to tell you about it while you get dressed.” She doesn’t stop to look at Jake’s expression just continues talking with a faraway look in her eyes. “We were at this beautiful mansion, it was huge! I don’t know where it was, I don’t think I’ve ever seen it before, although it seemed familiar. Inside there were tons of people, all our friends were there, milling around and dancing and there was food and drink everywhere. Everyone was dressed up. I had on this stunning evening gown, it was creamy colored, but in the light it reflected golden threads. It had a huge billowing skirt, and the top was fitted tight and off my shoulders, just the way you like it. It was a very fancy dress, and it fit perfectly! It was the kind of dress I wore as a child to social functions, well, I guess it was slightly more grown up than that. And you, you had on a formal tuxedo, with the tails and everything. You never looked so handsome, all dressed up like that. And we ate and drank and we talked with everyone and even when we were apart we always looked for each other, catching each others glances, smiling across the room with the smiles we only have for each other. Then we danced and danced and everyone was watching us because we looked so good, spinning around the dance floor. But eventually everyone disappeared to us; even though they were there it was like they weren’t. After a while we wanted to be somewhere more private, so we snuck outside and down the steps though the garden. We found a spot under these huge trees that were covered with pink flowers and we kissed and kissed and a warm breeze started blowing and the petals were coming off the trees and floating down all around us. So we lay down under the trees in the pink petals and we made love all afternoon and even into the night. But at night the little light bugs came out and it was like fairy lights all around us. And we were so happy, no one shooting at us, no one hated us, no troubles or worries, we had everything we needed and wanted, and we had each other. It was a perfect day, a perfect moment in time.” Finally Ruby snaps out of her reverie and look at Jake. “I know it probably sounds stupid to you. A foolish girl’s fairy tale I guess. But you know what? I haven’t had a dream that I can remember that wasn’t a nightmare since I was a child.” Jake had just completed tying the leather lace at the bottom of his holster to his leg when Ruby said the words 'no one shooting at us'. Seems like there is no end of ironies in my life lately, he thinks. Resisting the urge to look down at his Colt he says, "It does not sound stupid at all. We must have a gown like that made for you someday, it sounds stunning. I can't say I have ever worn a tuxedo." He grabs his duster and hat then walks to her side. "What a lovely dream. Whatever your friend in high places is doing for you, it becomes you." Since she didn't really hear what I said about the meeting, he smiles to himself and then asks Ruby, "Leave me a message if you go off before I come back so I can find you in case I have a need. If your social calendar is open, perhaps we can do dinner." He is wearing a friendly smile. "Darling, you ARE my social calendar." Ruby returns his smile. "Yes, dinner will be lovely. I am meeting with the Judge for lunch today, I am sure you'll want to hear all about that. And I am going to go and buy that ruby ring with the money I won in Tombstone." She looks excited at the thought. "I will leave you a note if I go far, but I doubt I will. I want to find out what happens at the meeting." She settles back into bed. "It will be difficult today, having had you all to myself the past few days, now I have to share you again. Kiss me again before you leave." She looks up at Jake expectantly. As he kisses her he wonders, What are the chances the jeweler has two of those rings? I better make sure he remembers not to say who bought it. Ruby gives Jake a long kiss, not wanting to let go. I know I can tempt him back into bed but I shouldn't, the meeting is important. She finally releases him, reluctantly. "Off you go Mr. Cook! Go do your civic duty. Don't miss me too much while we're apart." "As if not missing you was possible," he quips as he exits the room. Jake is at the door and Ruby has her eyes closed when suddenly she bolts upright. "Jake, wait! My earrings, do you still have them?" Ruby looks slightly panicky as she speaks. "Right on your night stand." He calls from the hallway. Ruby breathes a sigh of relief before reaching over and putting them back on. Then she falls back into the softness of their bed.It doesn't take Ruby long before she falls alseep. Not too much time passes before Ruby hears a knock on her door. She slowly drags herself out of bed and answers it, still wearing only Jake’s shirt. "Hola, Ruby, Como estas?" Minerva says with a smile plastered on her face. Ruby looks at Minerva and shrewdly guesses that something is terribly amiss. "May I speak to you privately?" “Of course,” Ruby replies, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, “You don’t need to ask. Come on in.” Minerva enters the room and Ruby closes the door behind them. She smiles at her dark haired friend, “I’m great today, really great, but the more important question seems to be, how are you?” Ruby sits on the bed while Minerva paces and begins speaking. "I know that I have not known you very long, and that I have no right to bother you like this. And I don't usually inconvenience others with my problems, well I NEVER have before but.... I just don't know what to think or what to do...," she says ringing her hands and pacing. "I have never had a woman in my life to talk too. I don't know how to ask these questions." She glances quickly at Ruby and then glances away. "Please stop me if you are offended." She takes a deep breath and plunges in. "You see, I have these feelings... in my stomach. Like a hard knot. It is so tight sometimes that it makes me nauseous,” she says placing her hand on her stomach. “And then my heart pounds, like it is going to explode right out of my chest and I can hear it, like waves crashing in my ears. It is very deafening and I can't focus on anything. And…and I get light headed and I cannot breath! It is such an awful feeling and I cannot make it go away! I need to make it go away! What is happening to me? What am I to do? I think I might die from it." She says forlornly as she slumps on the bed. Ruby looks at Minerva with a serious expression before breaking out in a smile. “Let me guess… this feeling starts when you are around someone? A certain elf in particular?” Minerva nods her heads nervously in response. Ruby suddenly takes Minerva into a tight embrace. “Relax! It’s ok… It’s not an awful feeling, it’s the best feeling in the world! As you would say, sent from Aphrodite herself…,” Ruby pushes a strand of dark hair off of Minerva’s face, “You’re falling in love.” Minerva looks at her, horrified. “How can you say that? You must be mistaken! These terrible debilitating feelings can not be love! I am sure that I am sick. Is there no remedy that you can provide me to make me feel better, perhaps some herb or magical remedy? Please," Minerva says with fear in her eyes. “I need you to cure me.” ”Argh! I cannot fall in love! It mustn’t be so. I have too much to do!” Agitated, she jumps off the bed and paces around the room throwing her arms up. “How can I know for certain? I do not know if I am ready for this. Ah, the gods are so cruel. I am doomed!” She turns and looks at Ruby with tears in her eyes. “He does not return my feelings. He talks of nothing but friendship and refers to me as ‘Priestess’.” Ruby tries to hold back, but the giggle escapes her lips anyway. “I’m sorry,” she says compassionately, “I don’t mean to laugh. Come and sit here.” Ruby pats the edge of the bed again. “Now listen, being in love IS the most WONDERFUL experience you will ever have. At times the feelings will overwhelm you and make you feel out of control, and you ARE out of control, but that’s what makes them so wonderful. There is no cure for love, you can only give in to it. And you are never ready for love, it sneaks up on you at the most inopportune times. But you shouldn’t deny the gift that Aphrodite has sent you!” Ruby smiles, “She must have really been thankful for the ceremony.” Minerva sits next to her and Ruby wipes her tears away. “To feel the warmth of your lovers lips on yours, to smell him on you and have that scent always remind you of him no matter where you are, and when he touches you, you shiver in delight and longing, the absolute ecstasy of a night of passion, oh there is no greater feeling!” Ruby gets a dreamy look in her eyes and continues softly, “And to know, through good or bad, you have someone to trust, someone to comfort you, someone who will always care and understand, someone you would do anything for and he would do the same for you, to give everything you have but never feel empty. This is what you WANT Minerva, believe me. And if it is before you, you would be a fool to let it go for it is an elusive and very rare gift.” “Now about Nanuet, I believe you are wrong about his feelings. Try to remember he is of a different race than us. They are long lived and like to take things slow. And also, I’m sure you know, when he came here to Promise City he rushed into something with someone he didn’t know very well. Things didn’t work out and perhaps he is afraid to rush into something again. Besides, it always takes men longer to figure out what we women know from the beginning,” Ruby chuckles. “Sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands. Now THAT is something I am good at.” “Minerva looks at her as if she has lost her mind. “Yes well, that is all good and easy for you to say. It is obvious that Jake loves you and you know…Well, you know how to love him back, but I have no experience. I don’t know what to do or what to expect. It’s not like they write books about this sort of thing. And it all feels so … strange. Besides as you have said, Nanuet is an elf. He is not like other men. I will be dead or at least old and decrepit before he realizes his feelings for me. I do not have the time or the patience for it! If I am to take matters into my own hands I am going to need assistance. You have to help me!” she pleads. “Calm down, Minerva, I will help you!” Ruby laughs and smiles again at her friend. “Try this.” She gets up and pours Minerva a whiskey. “This will help you calm down,” she says handing her the glass. “Now, you may not believe this, but your heart will tell you what to do when the time is right, how to love Nanuet in return. You don’t need experience. Sure, the physical stuff is better when you know what to do, but everything else is just what comes natural. You can’t make a mistake. But we will make him see and understand how you feel about him. Nanuet is a simple man. Let’s start with that.” Ruby and Minerva speak for a long time. Minerva seems to have calmed down some, feeling better with a plan in place. “And Minerva, one more thing,” Ruby suddenly states sternly, “You are not inconveniencing me in any way, this is what friends are for! To tell you the truth before I came to Promise City I didn’t have any women in my life to talk to either. But that time is behind us now, right? And it was you who said we were somehow connected, from the very beginning. I would be very upset to know you had something to talk about and didn’t come to me, so I am glad that you did.” Ruby hugs her friend again. “It’ll be ok. Just remember, you told me, this is a gift and a curse, you have to take the good with the bad.”"Yes, it is the bad that I am afraid of." Minerva says. "But since the goddess has led me to you, I will trust that you know what you are about. After all YOU are her favored one." she laughs. "Oh, Poor Nanuet, he has no idea who he is dealing with. He doesn't stand a chance does he?! Gracias, Ruby" she says and twirling back before she leaves, envelopes her friend in a big hug and still laughing, rushes back down the stairs.</blockquote>

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