Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3192472" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 196, “Jake’s Walk“, Monday, March 27th, 1882, 7:30 PM Minerva tells Nanuet "I would like to take a bath, but I will be back and we can walk later." She steps out onto the porch and puts her arm around Katherine. "It has been a long day and you look weary. If you would like someone to talk to about Conrad and what is happening to you please remember that I am your friend and will gladly listen."Kate says, "That went just about as badly as it could possibly go. The worst part is, I don't think Ruby was being affected in any way at all. That anger was all hers, and if that's true we are not the friends I thought we were. She should know I would never try to take what is hers, not in my right mind. And even then I did the only thing I could think of to stop the situation. After this Cowboy Gang business is finished... I don't know."  Kate replies, "I hope it will be alright. Ruby was my first friend here, and although we don't spend the time together we used to, everything feels topsy-turvy when things aren't right between us." She looked at Minerva. "And about Conrad, I'm so confused. There's too much, I can't wrap my head around it."Minerva guffaws, "Not as badly as my encounter with her yesterday! I made the mistake of telling Ruby that it was unpleasant when she touched me. Actually she made my skin crawl. She wouldn't listen when I tried to tell her that it wasn't her that something was making me feel that way. She got all offended and started yelling Next thing I know everyone thinks that its me that's gone berserk. I slapped Jake across the face, kicked Nanuet in the shin and then Ruby cast a sleep spell on me! I wanted to warn you about that this afternoon but we got interrupted." I wouldn't worry to much Ruby is a very spirited woman but she'll come to her senses. As for Conrad, It is obvious that he cares for you very much. I know that you still miss your Tom, but do you think that you could grow to love Conrad also? It would certainly make your life and that of your son's much easier if you could."Kate says, "I think I could, but not in the same way. The love I gave Tom is his, but there are as many kinds of love as stars in the sky. And I'm a different woman than the one who married Tom Kale. But Tom has only been gone for six months, and I still miss him everyday. I still feel like his wife. I never thought I'd marry again, but somewhere in my mind I knew if I wanted children I would have to. And what about Conrad? He told me he loved me today... what if I marry him and he begins to resent me? Or I begin to resent him? Isn't it cruel to ask him to live with a woman whom he can't treat as a wife in private? If we divorced as he suggested we could if I wanted, it would seem odd for us to go back to being friends like we are now. Is practicality a good way to start a marriage? Do we take a chance on me being able to love him without feeling guilt every day for the rest of my life?"Minerva replies, “This is the west, Katherine. Practicality is a necessity. There aren't many women in this part of the world and you would make Conrad a fine wife. There's certainly no reason to feel guilty about it or to think that your love for him would not grow. It sounds like you have a lot to think about, and not a lot of time to make your decision. ""Yes, and I can't devote the time to it I should, not with the Cowboys out there. He wants to marry at the festival, soon enough to make the town think my son is his. I'm not wise enough to make this choice, Minerva. Thank you for listening," Kate said quietly. "I still want to thank Diana. If I did my own ceremony, would it be acceptable?"Well, If you find that you need an ear. I will be here for you. Yes I think that it would be wise to perform another ceremony to thank Diana. It does not have to be so elaborate though. If you talk she will listen and perhaps if you listen she will talk." Minerva gives Katherine a hug and moves off the porch. she retrieves clean cloths from home and takes a bath a Gilson's Bath house. She takes her time dressing making sure that her hair and clothes will be pleasing to her new love. Afterward she searches out Nanuet, looking forward to his company and spending time in his strong arms exploring her new feelings.Once Minerva shows up Nanuet's smile brightens considerably. She waits inside the Lucky Lady, listening to Ruby sing but mostly watching Nanuet as he moves around the room being helpful where he can. At the end of the night, Nanuet offers Minerva his arm, "Ready for our walk? We will take our time walking you home."Nanuet and Minerva spent an hour leisurely walking around town before he finally dropped her off at her boarding house. He sung the song he serenaded her with only a few nights ago, only this time from the porch rather than from the street below. They held each other for a few moments, neither wanting to separate from the other. A sweet kiss ended the night and each went their separate ways. Kate stayed on the porch for a time after Minerva left, then quietly found Jeff Mills to walk her back to the El Parador. No one would notice her slipping off. At the El Parador Kate spent some time sitting downstairs in the Cantina, enjoying the friendly feeling among the patrons. She was feeling a growing tendency to isolate herself, and it wasn't a good thing. Finally she went upstairs and spent some time with Ginnie. There was something wrong there as well, but Kate didn't want to push. If in a day or two it was still there, she would see if she could get the girl to talk about it. At the end of a very long Monday Kate finally climbed into bed and laid awake for a long time trying to work through everything before she fell asleep.Ruby enters the Lucky Lady and walks over to Kevin. "Mr. Tomlinson, so you decided to join us tonight. Glad that you did. I am looking forward to my lessons tomorrow, hopefully there wont' be any emergencies to upset our plans again." "I'm glad to give them, Miss West," he replies, "I look forward to it." Ruby chats amicably with him for a while, then excuses herself to do a set of songs. While she is singing she notices Clarisse arrive and Kevin invites her to sit with him. Chester is still at work and hasn't arrived yet so Clarisse accepts. Ruby sings, drinks and chats with the customers, who are happy to have her as she usually doesn't sing on Mondays.Jake visits Pedro at the El Parador. He chats with him for a while about this and that before asking him about local artisans. "Are there locals that make statues? I would imagine that with wood being scarce there wouldn't be many carvers."   "Si, Senor, not many carvers." Pedro tells him. "Weaving and working with clay or tile are common. Do you seek decoration for the saloon? There are muy hermosa jars and pots from clay. Painted tiles too can be bought." "Yes, I am looking for decorations," Jake says and strokes his beard. Jake gets the names of some local families that make attractive items. They chat some more before Pedro excuses himself to attend to the evening crowd at the El Parador. Jake heads back to start his game at the Lucky Lady.Jake returns from the El Parador nods politely without stopping to Katherine and Minerva who are talking on the porch. "Best if I stay away from those two for a bit," he mumbles to himself.  He greets Ruby at the bar with a hug from behind, obtains a bourbon from Harry and makes his way to Job Kane's Monday regulars. Jake spends the evening playing casually, listening to Ruby and going easy on Job's regular players.The night is a typical Monday and Jake's game doesn't go very late. Harry has the cleanup under control and Jeff Mills is back but keeping to himself. Jake judges that he is not ready to talk so he lets him be. "Ruby, I'm not ready for bed yet. I'm going to take a walk, maybe keep my eyes and ears open for some information, but mostly just to stretch my legs before bed time."  Ruby is a little suspicious but Jake's expression does not indicate that he is up to something so she doesn't protest. "Really," He assures her, "I'll stay out of trouble." Jake leaves by the front door and walks a loop around by the El Parador and back to make sure no one is following him. Satisfied, he continues on his errand to the incomplete church building. Jake strolls the empty church frame. It looks very different in the dark, empty of chairs and people. "Not much like the neighborhood temple back in Philadelphia." Arms folded, he stands for a long time looking at the empty space where the Priestess Florencia hangs her tapestries. He looks up at the roof, then side to side before looking back to the empty place in the front. "Seems strange not knowing where to talk to, I was used to having a statue to look at. That is probably stupid too." Jake moves his hands to his pockets and takes a step forward. "Was the priestess right? Have you been looking after me? Or am I right and you are a selfish bastard that doesn't really care if I needed your guidance?" A moment passes. "Perhaps we are both right." Jake takes another step forward. "A long time has passed. Well a long time for me anyway. I'm guessing Virginia is away from our parents now, maybe I don't care what happened anymore. No, that's not true, but I know I can go on." Silver Jake Cook is quiet again for a few minutes. "Your half sister is creating quite a stir here in Promise City. Her and a bunch of the others of your kind seem to have a perverse interest in this pathetic little town. I can't quite figure what to make of it, or what to do." He laughs, "No, don't send me a dream. We already have a bunch of dreamers running amok like lunatics trying to do the gods will." Jake looks around the empty church. "I'm not even sure why I came tonight." He shakes his head. "Look, I'm going to try to figure this out myself. I don't really care how many people Aphrodite has going about berserk in love. I just figure when it's all done the town folks ought to be able to still live their lives here, raise their kids, run their little businesses, and have some entertainment in the saloons when the day is over. Lots more people shouldn't need to die to get there." Jake's hand unconsciously brushes his Peacemaker. "So if I should get into trouble... you know, I mean after all Ares is involved....." Jake turns and walks towards the doorway. "You know, this town could use an icon to Hermes. Seems a crime that it doesn't have one. I'll be damned if I'll let the vigilance committee own it though. Still, I think I'll look into that." As he steps into the street he says, "Seems to me it would do this town some good."  Jake does not look back as he walks casually to the Lucky Lady. Standing outside he says to himself, "Home. It still seems unnatural." He let's himself in through the locked front door and locks it up after him. He bids Harry good night and goes upstairs to his room. He enters without knocking.Ruby breathes a sigh of relief once the night is over. There was tension in the air and it seemed to nag at her, even when she tried to push it aside. Things needed to be made right, but she didn't know how to do it.  Ruby drops her clothes to the floor and chooses a mostly clean shirt of Jake's, taking a deep breath of the musky scent before sliding into it. She pulls her long hair down and brushes it thoroughly before having a small bourbon nightcap. She opens all the windows, letting the cool evening breeze fill the room. Soon enough it would be hot and open windows wouldn't give any relief. But for now it was very enjoyable on her mostly bare skin. The white window and bed curtains waved in the breeze and it swirled the scent of her red flowers from Jake around the room. They were almost dead, all except for the perfect red rose from her dream. She picks it up and runs it across her face before placing it back on the table. She lays in bed, wondering where Jake is, knowing she wouldn't sleep without him next to her. She stares at her ring and smiles, knowing she would never take it off by choice. Finally Jake enters the room. She watches him start to get undressed. "Where did you go baby?" she asks curiously, stretching her long legs as she speaks.   "I needed some time to think, a sort of praying in my own way. Nothing you need to be worried about. Jake is just trying to find his way through everything that is happening." He smiles a reassuring kind of smile. "No, the answers to all my questions didn't come down from the sky. Nor did I expect them to, or want them that way. I'll know what to do when I am needed." Some of his habits never change. Lately though he has changed his habit of hanging his Peacemaker alone on his bedpost. For the past several days he has been hanging both his pistols there. That done he climbs into the bed with his girl.  Ruby immediately cuddles up to Jake, putting her nose to his neck and letting him wrap his arms around her. She reaches up and starts twirling her finger in his thick brown hair.  "So," she says sleepily, "You never asked me what happened...""Um, what do you mean what happened? Did I miss something?" Jake replies, looking down at the wild red hair covering his chest. "My story, about the prince and the girl. You never asked."  "Ah," Jake replies, "So what happened?"  Ruby smiles and cuddles closer and yawns as she speaks quietly, "They fell in love, he made her his princess and they lived happily ever after."   "I like a happy ending." Jake says in a very quiet voice. "Me too." She gives Jake a soft sleepy kiss, "I love you Jacob Cook." Ruby is asleep before she realizes that Jake hasn't answered, but fallen asleep too.Chester spends most of the flight watching over the prisoners. When Berg relieves him, he takes a peek out the window. "This is an amazing view, Mr. Schmidt. I can see why you became an aeronaut. How long are we going to be up here? I'm a bit nervous leaving my friends behind." "Not long, Herr Deputy. We will give these men to the Rangers and then we can go home, ja?"  He replies, "Yep."</blockquote>

Verification