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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3023423" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 158, “Ruby’s Confession”, Saturday, March 25th, 1882, 11:00 AM Answering Ruby’s question about his previously happy mood Gonzales replies, "Oh, I ran into an old friend down in Mexico. She and I became reacquainted." Once back in town, Ruby stables her horse as does Mr. Gonzales. "One more thing," she says glancing around to make sure no one is listening in, "This," she says patting the wand in the secret spot, "How do you defend against something like it? I mean, is diving out of the way your only option?"   He says, "You best option is to not put yourself in a situation where you become a target, but that is not always possible. Magical protections help, like that coat that Mr. Cook has. But in your case, given how well you shoot, I would say that your best defense is a good offense." "That sounds like good advice, Mr. Gonzales," Ruby nods, "Very good advice, thanks."  Ruby makes a stop at the leather shop, buying some simple black leather string before heading back to the Lucky Lady.  Ruby heads upstairs looking for Jake.   When she enters their room she sees Jake in a familiar position, sitting slouched in the stuffed chair his bootless feet hanging over the arm. He is examining something held between his fingers, but she saw that he glanced towards her and back to his concentration quickly. The only evidence that he noticed her was the growing smirk on his face. Ruby raises an eyebrow at him, 'What are you up to? You have that look in your eye..." she says suspiciously, but with a smile on her face. "I'm bored,” Jake says and drops the object in his shirt pocket. Ruby sees a sparkle as he does so, and knows it is the diamond solitaire ring. "You feeling lucky, luck lady? I'll cut you for the cash in this pocket," he pats his left front trouser pocket with his left hand, "against all the cash you have on you. I'm feeling generous today. I'll tell you that I have five paper notes in it but I won't tell you the denominations." Jake's smirk has gotten enormous. "I'm always feeling lucky," replies Ruby. "But I still want to know what you're up to. I should warn you, I don't have too much money on me at the moment."   "Why are you so suspicious of me all the time?" he answers with a chuckle. Jake takes the silver card case out of his other trouser pocket, removes the cards and shuffles. He lays the cards on the small table and says, "Ladies first." She cuts and flips over the top card, the five of clubs.  Ruby raises an eyebrow again while reaching down her bodice and pulling out a small wad of bills, throwing the money on the table. "Not very good, I thought you'd be lucky today. Plus you are giving up already, not a very good sign. Let's see that means I have about three chances in ten of drawing worse, so about seven in ten of at least a draw if not outright beating your card." His smirk hasn't lessened one bit.   "Oh, I'm not giving up, you should know me better than that," she smiles and sits on Jake's lap, "Let's see your card." He restacks the cards and makes his cut, dropping the card he had in his palm on top of his draw half when he adjusts the cards with his left hand. Ruby does not see him do this. With supreme confidence he reaches for the card with his right hand. As he turns over the two of spades he looks crestfallen. "Just proves once again that luck is relative. You only have to be luckier than the other person at any given time." He forces a smile back on his face and fishes out the notes in his pocket. He hands them all crumpled up to her. Ruby straightens the bills. One after another, she discovers that each is a $100 note.  Ruby looks at the bills and smiles, "Shopping spree perhaps?" She shakes her long hair off her shoulders then jams the money back in Jake's shirt pocket. "What's this all about?" "That night I took the ring as my winnings,” Jake almost said the night of the dream but thought the better of it. "I had selfish motives. No, I didn't care about the money, I just didn't want you to have one more opportunity to chase down Eastman to give it back. I also didn't want you to have access to ready cash if you panicked again and tried to run. Lastly I wanted to give you a story for later if you were asked to give it back. You can honestly say you lost it in a card game." He pauses to look her in the eyes, though not smiling his face is friendly and open. There was another reason , Jake thinks, but I'm not ready for that one . "I sent a letter to a jeweler I met in Tucson asking him if he could sell it." He removes the ring from his pocket. "It is up to you what you wish to do with it. Just tell me what you want and I'll make it square, all honestly of course." "Selfish, huh?" Ruby quietly looks at the ring in Jake's hands. "I already decided at that point I wasn't giving it back." She stares back into Jake's eyes, "You really are jealous of him, aren't you?" "There was something about him, when ever you, he and I were concerned it meant trouble. Arguments, words taken the wrong way, suspicions, hurt feelings, you name it we experienced it. I didn't bring this up to talk about him. I did what I thought was best when I took this from you. Now I think it's best for you to decide what to do with it. You shouldn't feel you are dependent on me for money." Jake slowly turns the ring back and forth in his hands. "If the Hammer is correct, this is worth half of what the saloon was worth when we bought it." Ruby rises off of Jake's lap and replies stubbornly, "I'm not dependant on you for money. I can make my own money." She snatches the ring from Jake. "I can get one of these whenever I want to."   "I never had so much trouble giving somebody back their money." He reaches out and pulls her hard back down to his lap. "Damn you woman, can't you just accept that I felt like I took advantage of you, and trust you and want to help you? Can't you believe I think you can take care of yourself?" He grabs two handfuls of hair and pulls her face close to his, almost nose to nose. Suddenly he can't stop laughing. "Why is it that I can sweet talk half the world into doing the most ridiculous things but I can't seem to have a serious conversation without saying something that offends you?" Ruby pouts, “I don’t know, why?” She stares at Jake while he continues to laugh at her. She moves her face even closer to him, so their lips are almost touching, “I don’t know if I should kiss you or slap you right now.”    "Pity me, will you? I just get all flustered sometimes, with my heart pounding so hard. If you slap me you might bruise those pretty fingers of yours." She is too close to see if his mouth is grinning, but she can guess from the twinkle in his eyes. He releases her hair and slides his hands to her neck, cupping her head. "Maybe you don't slap me enough. It is a fact that I never tire of your kisses." "Leave your heart out of this, Mr. Cook," she says with a sly grin, "And no, you definitely don't get slapped enough. But I will agree with the kisses part," as she leans the little distance that is still between them, kissing him slowly, teasing him with small kisses.  "Now about that ring, it's from Tiffany's. Have you ever heard of Tiffany's?"  He replies, "No." She says, “It’s the most famous jewelry store probably in the world. Every girl dreams of getting a ring from Tiffany’s. Of course, how can I wear this ring? One, I’m not engaged and two, it’s from someone you absolutely hate. So as beautiful as it is, it’s going to sit in a box in the safe until I get curious and try it on and it gets stuck again, causing more panic attacks for everyone. That or were not together anymore, which isn’t going to happen either. So, just the sight of this ring is going to bring bad memories with it. The truth is, I don’t know what to do with it.” She resists the urge to put it on her finger, keeping it in her fist. "Sometimes I think that Eris herself sent that man." Jake shakes his head. "So you don't want me to sell it?"  She says, "Fine, sell it." She opens Jake's hand, forces the ring into it and closes his fist around it. Then she gets off his lap again and reaches for a drink. "Go ahead and sell it already. I don't know why you didn't yet."   Jake takes the ring box out of his pocket and slides the ring into its resting place. He closes the box with a snap. "Because it is not mine to sell." He walks to the safe which is open, and deposits the ring box there. He closes the safe, spins the combination and replaces the false wall. Coming up behind Ruby he wraps one arm around her waist and takes the whiskey out of her hand. "I won't be mad when I come into the room and find you wearing it." He drinks half the contents and places it back in her hand. He sniffs deeply a couple of times while nuzzling her neck. "You smell nice. Enough of the diamond today. When you know in your heart what you want to do with it, then it will be settled. Of course that means I still get an 'anything I want' from the card game." He leaves a kiss on her neck and laughs wickedly. "Is it time for lunch?" Damn It! He knows that gets me every time Ruby has to summon all her strength to not give in to Jake’s kiss and nuzzling. She turns and faces him, ignoring his comment. “Jake, sell the ring. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” She puts her hands on his face, “You can still get an anything you want, just get rid of it, ok?” She gives him another slow and deep kiss. “And yes, it’s almost time for lunch. What did you feel like having? Although that seems a bit wasteful to ask for that for anything you want.” She looks up at him with from under her long eyelashes with big innocent eyes. "Heh, I'll let you know when I'm cashing that in, and not for lunch." He pulls on his boots, straps on his revolvers and starts leading her to the stairs. "Perhaps the El Parador and visit with Dorita and Pedro?" "Yes that's fine. But Jake," she stops suddenly, "You didn't answer about the ring." "I sent Mr. Beck a letter, if he thinks he can sell it we can take it to him. It will be hard to sell it around here, I will keep looking for you. Satisfied?" "Oh, so we could take a trip to Tucson? Would you take me to meet Red?" Ruby looks at him curiously, waiting for the answer. "As for satisfied...I will be after you kiss me again." "I'm sure we could make arrangements to meet Red. Although I worry that Mr. Van Horne took a little to much pleasure looking at you," he adds teasingly. Jake pulls her close and gives her another kiss. "Satisfied, hum.... perhaps you are for now." He reaches down and scoops up his duster and pulls her along towards the door. "I am hungry." "I want to meet your friends or even your family, your sister," she says walking down the steps.   "That reminds me about the letter Maggie wrote, I wonder if that really was Virginia? Outside of her if you want to meet my family you can do it without me." Jake says with a hint of disgust in his voice.   Ruby says, "I only meant your sister, I didn't mean anyone else." As they walk to the El Parador Ruby asks, "So, what's it going to take for me to prove I'm not going to run... without you."   "Don't run without me." Jake shrugs. "It is going to be fine. The first time I had to trick you promise to not to leave without saying goodbye. I don't feel like I need to ask for that promise anymore."  They look up and find they are standing outside the El Parador. "Look at me," she says looking deep into his eyes, holding his face in her hands. "I am not going anywhere without you. Not now, not for a very long time, maybe not ever. Repeat after me, Ruby West is not going anywhere without her handsome lover Jacob Cook." She looks at him expectantly.  "It doesn't sound the same when I say Jake Cook is handsome." He smiles and says, "I know Ruby, you aren't going anywhere without me.""Good. Now let's go eat." They enter the Cantina and take their old table in the dining room.  She says, "Hey, did I tell you that I'm going to take fencing lessons? It seems to be the current craze."  Jake replies, "Not me. It would just be another way for you to prove your hands are faster than mine. I'll stick to the my Colt."  "Oh, it's just for fun," Ruby shrugs. "I'm sure I'll get bored quickly." Ruby picks at some bread from the basket on the table. She asks, "Why did you want to visit with Dorita and Pedro?"  "No reason other than I like them." Jake responds. "If I see Conrad Booth I do have questions for him, but I can ask him any time."  "Well, say hello, here she comes. Buenas tardes Dorita. What's for lunch?" Ruby gives her a dazzling smile.  Dorita offers them a spicy beef and pork stew with corn-pepper bread on the side. She doesn't even ask what they want for a beverage, bringing a half-filled bottle of Kentucky Bourbon to the table."Dorita, have I ever told you that you're the best at what you do!" Ruby calls after her as she scurries back into the kitchen.  Ruby is quiet as she eats her lunch. Finally she looks up at Jake, her cheeks slightly flush. "Jake, I have to ask a favor of you. Will you help me read a book?"  Ruby suddenly becomes very embarrassed. "Oh you know, forget it, I was just, uh, kidding. I'm going to uh, be right back."  Jake was about to ask her a question when she leapt from the table. What in Hades was that all about?  She hurries into the kitchen after Dorita. "Ugh, that was stupid," she exclaims to no one. Then she looks up at Dorita. "Yes, I just embarrassed myself. I keep doing that."Dorita sighs "At least I don't have to tell you to eat. You may want to come back for supper tonight. The Italian chef Joseppi offer to cook meal tonight and Ramirez brothers offer to run Cantina. Pedro and I have the night off! He taking me out to dinner!"   Ruby laughs, "Yes, I get FAT from eating TOO much around here of your good cooking!" Ruby runs a hand over her slim belly. "I have to dance around my room in my underwear every night to burn off those muffins of yours!" As she talks she grabs one. "And where are you going to eat tomorrow night? Going on a date, how cute!"Dorita replies, "Well, Grandfather do so much traveling lately that we not ask him to take us anywhere so we stay in town. Not many restaurants will let those of our race in, and some would but the other patrons not make us feel welcome. We probably go to Drovers Hotel, they not bothered by other races. They have regular customers of half-orc Coolie Fagan who works for Wells Fargo and also Manuel and Enrico Escobar who work for the Morands.""Of course," Ruby replies casually, "You could come to OUR saloon, the Lucky Lady, and let us take care of you for a night. Then again, you might just want to get away from all of us I suppose," Ruby teases. "And tonight I am singing special! It would be even more special if you came. But I can understand waiting to be alone though, so don't feel bad to say no. Your grandfather is coming by, he said he would."  Dorita replies, "We will come by later to hear you singing later but no for dinner. Maria get all her recipes from me, eating her cooking not new for us. Want to try different person's cooking.""Of course. Well, have a wonderful dinner then, you deserve a night off." Ruby kisses her cheek and makes sure to take the muffins with her when she exits the kitchen.  Back at the table Ruby tries to hide the still small blush on her cheeks. "Look, muffins! Yeah, so, what do you have planned for after lunch?""A hundred things to do and I don't feel like doing any of them." He savors a bite of Dorita's stew and then a sip of bourbon. "So what is so funny about asking me to read a book?" Jake then does a poor imitation of Ruby's voice, "Oh, forget it, I was just kidding."   "Funny? No not funny." The blush on Ruby's face grows rosier and she looks away from Jake, clearly uncomfortable.  Jake stops eating. "Did I say something wrong?""No," she responds quickly, "No, you didn't say anything wrong."   She continues to keep her gaze off of Jake. "Damn It," she mutters under her breath, grabbing the tablecloth and twisting it in her hands, "Look, contrary to what you may think, I'm not perfect. And when I say I'm stupid I mean it." Ruby looks down at her hand, now more embarrassed than Jake has ever seen her. She continues very softly, "I can't read good."   "You can't read well," Jake replies quickly and without thought. "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't...."   "Right," she replies. Ruby's cheeks start to burn with embarrassment and she gets a knot in the pit of her stomach. Before Jake can respond any further she stands up and rushes outside. Once there she leans against the wall of the Cantina and fans her face. "Once again you prove just how stupid you are, Ruby West," she says quietly, to no one in particular.  “Clever Mr. Cook." Jake looks at the door, down at his meal and then his drink. "Keep your priorities man." He quickly downs his bourbon and heads out the door. Once outside he look in the street and then left and right. Finally seeing Ruby he walks casually over to her. "I am so relieved. I was having a tough time deciding whether to throw myself off the top of the Lucky Lady or shoot myself. I figured you were too perfect and I just couldn't stand it that I was sullying your perfection. Now that I know you are only nearly perfect I can work on convincing myself that the gods will let me hang around you." Jake puts one hand on the wall and leans forward very close to her. "Many books are highly overrated, did you know that? Have I mentioned before that you are lovely even when you checks are bright red?"Ruby tries to turn her head so she doesn't have to look at Jake. The thought of running even further away occurs to her but Jake is cleverly blocking her against the wall. She is too embarrassed to even respond his comments, for fear of saying something else that makes her feel worse.  Jake puts his remaining hand on the wall on her other side. "Are trying to spare my feelings? Is this your way of telling me I need to cancel that set of encyclopedia's I ordered you and buy you a gold necklace instead?" He pushes his nose into her ear. "Come on, damn you, laugh. It doesn't get any funnier. I'm not vaudeville, just a gambler."Ruby looks Jake in the eyes. "And I'm just a dancer who can't read very... well." She puts her hands on Jake's arm, thinking of breaking his grip on the wall but instead just holding onto him. "I wanted you to help me read the book for my play. But obviously if I can't read it and understand it then I shouldn't be trying to perform it."Looking straight back into her eyes he replies, "We may all be in the gutter my dear Ruby, but some of us are looking at the stars. What happened to that fiery girl that couldn't be stopped? Did you forget to look up? If you can remember the lines does it matter whether you read them yourself or someone reads them to you?""I guess not..." She turns her face away again. "I thought it would be ok to tell you, but I'm embarrassed and then you went and..." She kicks at some dirt on the ground. "Just forget it, ok? Let's go back to looking at the stars instead."   "You thought it would be OK to tell me.... but it isn't? Is that what I hear you saying? I'm glad I'm good enough company to watch the stars, that is some consolation." He doesn't move his arms from enclosing her against the wall."I thought you would understand. I thought you would help me read the book, even though I am embarrassed in front of you that I can't read very good. I didn't think you would make me feel worse by correcting my stupid mistake." Ruby finally looks at Jake again. "You're the only one who I care about what he thinks about me.""Look, I didn't mean anything by correcting you it was just habit. I'm sorry. Will you forgive me or do I have to throw myself off the saloon? I can't shoot myself because Chester will arrest me for disturbing the peace."  Ruby finally cracks a small smile. Still blushing she says, "You're funny. No killing yourself or I'll have to go through this again with someone else." "I'm sorry too, I'm just...I just don't want you to think less of me. Let's go finish lunch. Either that or kiss me, people are staring to stare," she says with her smile slightly larger then before.  "Yes Miss West." Jake pulls her from the wall and dips her like a dance move while giving her a long and enthusiastic kiss. Afterwards he pulls her upright and starts her towards the Cantina doorway. "Lunch is getting cold."</blockquote>

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