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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3230174" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 204, “Festival Events“,  Thursday, March 30th, 1882, 4:30 PM Judge Lacey runs up to Minerva when he sees her walking along South Street. He is waving a paper in his hand. "Priestess, he's Coming!" She pauses and asks, "Who is coming?" He replies, "Mark Twain! He says that he would be honored to speak at our festival. He says to expect him to arrive in town on Saturday afternoon or early evening depending upon when the stages are running. I know that Kris Wagner has arranged for a number of extra Wells Fargo stages to run from Friday to Monday to accommodate the crowds from out of town, so that shouldn't be an issue! Priestess! We can start advertising this!" She takes a look at the telegram and it is what Lacey has paraphrased, also including the sentence "I am anxious to see the where Doc Holiday left this Earth in Tombstone and where Billy the Kid did so in Promise City."  Minerva's face lights up. "This is wonderful news, Senor Lacey. I am sure the merchants will be very pleased by Senor Clemens appearance. How are the other events shaping up? I am sure that you and Senora Gilson have things well in hand."Minerva bids Mr. Lacy good day and continues on her way to the El Parador in search of Katherine. She finds her in the kitchen, looking like the cooking is getting the best of her. Minerva hides her smile but is unable to keep the twinkle out of her eyes as she looks at her floured covered friend. "Hola, Kate. Learning to bake today?" "I have come to see how you are doing with the Children's activities. I had an Idea that I wanted to share. Back in Spain we had a fair every year. I used to really love mutton Busting. We, the children that is, would ride the sheep and see how long we could stay on. It was great fun. What do you think? Maybe you could get some of the ranchers to help you out with that. I think that they young Senor King is in town and he did offer to help in any what that he could.""I left you a list of activities at your boarding house, did you not get it?" Kate asked and wiped her hands on a towel.  She replies, "No, I have not seen Bea today." Kate says, "I'm sure your idea is fine, and we have quite a few sheep out at the ranch, but I must say, the poor sheep!  I'm sure young Mr. King is very kind, but I had words with his mother last week so I doubt he would be willing to help me.  I'll ask Chester if someone can build a temporary pen for the sheep.   She replies, "I would not measure him against his Madre. I do not think that Senor King is much like his Madre. He came to visit me earlier in the week and he seems quite sincere. as for the mutton Busting, It does not hurt the sheep and it is quite a comical event. The children really love it, but some of them do develop sore bottoms as a result though." She laughs.Speaking of help, I think I will need a person or two to help me run things for the children.  I thought I would ask Mrs. O'Hara and Mrs. Wainwright to give me a hand.  Let me run upstairs and get my copy of the list so you can look it over."  It only took a moment for Kate to fetch the paper and come back into the kitchen.  "Here it is.""This is so Wonderful." Minerva says as she peruses the list. "The Children's games are my very favorite events. The sound of their laughter and excitement makes my heart light.”  Kate replies, "It's not that I think Mr. King would be like his mother, only that he may have heard about our altercation. If so, he would not wish to upset his mother by giving me assistance." Minerva says, “Speaking of Children, how is Ginny? I am going to ask her if she would like to display some of my tapestry work with her lace. I would pay her a commission for her sales of course."   Kate says, "Ginnie is... adjusting to the idea of an addition to our family. I'm not certain what her plans for the festival are, but you can find her at Mary Kelley's just now. I'm sure she'll be glad of any opportunity.""Gracias Kate, I will go and find her now while it is fresh in my mind. You look wonderful, by the way. "she says and hugs her friend before grabbing a hot cookie." Mmmm Not bad! Adios!"   Minerva makes her way over to Kelley's and shares her proposal with Ginny.Kate‘s cooking lesson from Dorita continued.  "My cookies better than 'Not bad,'" Dorita said with a huff. "I'm sure she was just trying to give me a hard time, Dorita. She doesn't know I didn't make those."  "Of course you not make those, too soon for baking for you!" Dorita waggled her finger at the plate of flour in front of Kate. "Get chicken, it not dredge itself."  "Yes Dorita," she said and did as she was told. They finished her days lesson with fried chicken, then Kate went upstairs to take a nap.Jake watches Ruby walk away with a little smirk followed by a shrug of his shoulders. "I think she needs a little time to cool off."  He walks over to the Arizona Billiard Hall. "Hey there Rufus, how are you today?"  "Fine Jake, doing fine. What can we do for you? Set you up with a table, I didn't think this was your game?"  "I had an hour to burn, thought I would stop in." There are not many men in at this hour but Jake says, "Introduce me around, maybe somebody here wants a shot at my money." Rufus Davis introduces Jake to the men one at a time. Jake is not a bad billiards player, but makes sure that even if he could win he manages to lose on a missed risky shot. After three games, Jake leaves and heads back to the Lucky Lady, the several dollars lost the price of the names of the men in the billiard hall.Shortly after Ruby returns to the Lucky Lady Jane arrives again to speak to Ruby alone. Ruby takes her to a more private table in the corner of the Saloon. “So,” Ruby begins, “Are you going to tell me about the ceremony now? I want to help but I don’t know anything about it.”  Jane smiles at Ruby, “Sister, you are so impatient. Answer me this question, Do you wish to please the goddess?” Ruby doesn’t need to think of her answer, “Of course. I really want to thank her. But I have had too much unwanted trouble lately and don’t want to get myself in anymore than I already am.” “No trouble,” Jane answers, “It’s your choice.”  “I know,” Ruby scrunches her nose, “But I want to make the right choice. I spoke to Jake about it. He listens but has no answers. Only that he doesn’t want to share me.” Ruby shrugs, “I can’t blame him, I don’t have any answers either.” “The answer is simple, Sister,” Jane places her hand over Ruby’s. “The goddess is telling you what to do, you just have to do it.”  “And what do you want me to do?”  Jane answers, “I want you to do what you will. But if I had my way you would dance the Dance of the Veils.”  Ruby’s eyes widen slightly and she tries to keep herself from looking surprised. “I thought YOU did the Dance of the Veils.” “I do. We will both do it. You will go first.” Jane can immediately tell Ruby is wavering. She continues, “The goddess made you in her image for a reason. Your beauty and talents should not go unknown and unappreciated. You know in your heart she will be pleased if you do the dance for her. You will pass on her feelings of love and desire to all those who so desperately need and want them. For those of us who are chosen, it is easy to do. It is our duty to do so.” “But…”  Ruby next words are halted by Jane’s finger brushing her lips. “No buts. Search your heart and you will find the answer you seek.” Jane rises from the table. “I am going to plan on you doing the dance. If you decide not to, you may take a smaller role if you wish. Let me know if you change your mind.”  With that Jane exits the Lucky Lady leaving a speechless Ruby behind.As Jane is walking out, Minerva walks in. Ruby's brain was already spinning overtime about Jane's request. She waves to Minerva who smiles and approaches. Ruby asks Minerva to have a seat at their table and she gets her a whiskey. She smiles sweetly, "We need to have a discussion about the festival plans. At this late date there is still confusion about some things. Do you have time?" Minerva recognizes the confrontational look in Ruby's eyes and responds with an equally sugary smile. "I have a few minutes. Let us sit and talk." She says and sits in a chair with a table between them.  "Good," Ruby replies, wary of Minerva's smile. "I've been working on the entertainment but there seems to be some... confusion about the matter. Chester is building a big huge stage in the middle of town for everyone to gather at and that is where all this entertainment is supposed to go, but when I spoke to Judge Lacey he seemed a bit out of sorts, saying that you told him not to have it there? I didn't think that could be possible because the point of this festival was to bring this city together, not separate them. Am I correct in my thinking?" “Senorita Townsend was planning on excluding the saloons. And, understandably, the saloon owners were up in arms because of this. I told her that she could not do so and I told them to decide what part they wanted to play and to coordinate their events with Senora Gilson. I do not know what has been decided. Senora Gilson would have all that information.”  Ruby takes a sip of her whiskey before continuing. "Senora Gilson has no such information, she is just as clueless as Senor Lacey. They wanted me to figure it out and talk with you." Ruby sits up straighter in her chair and states, "The entertainment will be held on the main stage and the ball will be held there also. Any saloon not right there can set up a tent along the way if they want and sell what they wish. That should take care of that problem." "That is muey excelente, Ruby. You should tell your idea to Senora Gilson. I am sure that the saloon owners will appreciate being closer to the activities, especially when the Ball starts. People will not want to leave in search of libation. How is the entertainment shaping up?" "It's shaping up just fine. I am disappointed at the turnout but there should be enough entertainment for most of the day. Jake even offered to play and entertain the children for a bit." Ruby pauses, then continues slowly. "I have also planned some more 'adult' entertainment for later in the evening, which I am considering taking part in." "Oh? What is it?"  "What is what? It's entertainment meant for adults," Ruby laughs. "Surely you realize the difference." "Ruby, what part are you taking in the entertainment? What are you doing?" she says narrowing her eyes. Ruby laughs lightly, "You worry too much, Miss Florencia. I'm going to do what I do best." Ruby stops and considers her words. "I mean, second best." "And what might that be?" A huge smile grows on Ruby's face, "Well, I suppose you'll have to either ask Jake or wait for the festival and be surprised." Minerva sighs and rolls her eyes dramatically, "By the goddess, I know that smile! You are up to something, Ruby West." she smirks. "Talk to Jake? I may just do that!" She stands and moves around the table to lay her hand on Ruby's shoulder and says more seriously, "Por favor, be careful what you do mi Amiga, strange things are happening and I do not want you harmed." "I realize that everyone around here has been affected by... something.." Ruby smiles, "And I've decided I'm not going to worry about it anymore. I would like to have a little fun and receive some favor in return. I do appreciate the concern though." She squeezes Minerva's hand. "Thanks for taking the time to straighten things out. Hopefully things will run more smoothly now." She glances around the saloon. "I wonder where he is?" She shakes her hair around her. "Anyway, I'm sure you're busy with your plans..."Kate woke from her nap with time to spare before dinner. She replaited her hair and decided to go see Mrs. O'Hara. She slipped out of the El Parador with no one seeing her so for once managed to go somewhere alone. Her knock was quickly answered and she was ushered inside the busy house. "I've come at a bad time, you're getting ready for dinner."  "Nonsense," Mrs. O'Hara smiled. "There's plenty to help get the dinner on. Sit down now." In about a minute Kate was tucked into a chair with a drink. "Thank you for the tea. And for helping Ginnie with our house, which is why I came."  "'Twas nothing," Mrs. O'Hara said as her busy hands kept moving. "Your Ginnie is a good, industrious girl there. We had a nice little picnic with your basket when it came. I hoped she might come by and make friends with my girls here, but she always seems to be busy." "Yes, I can't convince her to slow down," Kate said, concerned. "But I hope once I open the school she will get to know some of the other children.  I also came to ask you a favor. I am in charge of the children's activities for the festival this weekend, and I may need another adult or two to keep things running smoothly. Since much of your family are likely to be there anyway, I hoped you might help." "Well, Shannon will be helping Mrs. Kelley those days. But I think between myself and Patrick we should be able to give you a hand."  "Thank you, it's a load off my mind. It would just be impossible to do everything at once. Plus there is likely to be horse racing, and since I'm raising horses I thought I should participate to make people aware." Kate stood up. "I should go and let you sit down to your dinner. Thank you."  "You're welcome to stay Mrs. Kale," the other woman said with a friendly smile. "You're very kind, but Ginnie will be expecting me over at the Cantina. Thanks again, and for the tea," Kate said as Mrs. O'Hara escorted her to the door.Mr. Gonzales joined Ginnie and Kate for an uncomfortable dinner, then took the young girl upstairs to her studies. Conrad had entered while they were eating but again took a seat at a different table. Kate kept her seat this time, then went upstairs for a quiet hour of reading before heading over to the Lucky Lady for work.Jake stops on the porch of his saloon in the doorway. His duster is unbuttoned and the criss-cross of a pair of gunbelts is visible. He pushes his hat back on his head and scratches an itch on his brow. Stamping the loose dust off his boots he enters the saloon. He sees Jeff Mills and Harry Rote busy getting ready for the evening. He can hear kitchen noises and assumes it is Maria. It appears to him that Ruby and Minerva are just finishing a conversation. Jake approaches the table the two women are at and flips a chair around to sit on it backwards, his hands holding the chair back in front of him. "Buenos trades, senoritas." "I've changed my mind," he says looking at Ruby. "I want to go out tonight instead of Friday. Job is already working my table tonight and you need a break from this vexing festival business before you bite my poor head clean off. Be ready in an hour. I'll go over and tell Mrs. Smith to be ready for us. Anything special you want her to make?"A look of surprise momentarily crosses Ruby's face before she smiles. "That's a great idea! But I have to take a bath... and only an hour? I'd better run." She stands from the table, her dizzy mind showing in her eyes, "I hope we're done here Minerva, I have to get ready for dinner. I'll, uh, talk to you later." She bounces her way to the stairs where she pauses and turns back to the two of them. "Chocolate," she says grinning at Jake. "Tell her something chocolate." With that she climbs the stairs quickly. She gathers a simple skirt and shirt and heads over to Gilson's for her bath. They are just about to close but Ruby convinces them one more bath of the bath won't hurt. As Ruby bathes Laurie does some cleaning around the room on the other side of the curtain so they can chat. Ruby explains the plan for the festival, that all the acts will be on the main stage and the saloons off of Main Street can set up tents along the way to sell their wares. She tells her the schedule for the entertainment and Laurie writes it down, saying she will pass it on to Judge Lacey.Minerva continues to sit after Ruby bounces off. "Senor Jake, I am worried about that girl. She is up to something. something that she does 'second best'. She won't tell me what it is but did say that I should ask you about it. Is our Ruby getting into more hot water?"   "I have no doubt she is." Jake says with a smile. "That is what she does." His smile fades, "Second best? Something she does second best? I'm not sure... I wonder though....." Jake stands. "It must have something to do with the public ceremony to Aphrodite," he says and strokes his beard while looking at Minerva. "Perhaps you should plan to be there for that ceremony Senorita. I do not know what it will bring but I have an uncomfortable feeling about it. It may be that I am just overprotective. Still...." Jake shrugs yet again today.   "I'm headed to the Promise City Hotel to speak with Melissa Smith for a minute, why don't you walk with me?"She hesitates and looks toward the stairs. "Si, I will walk with you. I was hoping to talk to Ruby about another matter," she says blushing slightly, "but she is off and running again. Well, I suppose that it can wait until manyana."  She allows Jake to escort her out of the saloon. "I really am concerned about her. She is the one that brought up the subject of some adult entertainment that she considering participating in, she looked so worried about it but when I tried to get specifics out of her she just laughed it off.""You can still have that talk with her when we are through, she has an hour to get ready. I've never known a woman who prefers to get ready without the company of another woman anyway.  I do have my worries about what Ruby is getting into. Who am I to get between someone and their deity? It's not like Silver Jake Cook has been a shining example of how to maintain a spiritual relationship with a god." Jake chuckles and scratches behind his ear as they walk. "Some people are meant to be a good example, I suspect I am just going to have to settle for being a frightful warning." Jake continues to laugh apparently finding that particularly humorous.Minerva looks at him and laughs, "Mi Padre used to say something similar about me. No it is not wise to get between a person and their god but it is important to know that it is the god's will that you are following and not that of someone else. How is your little project going? Have you found my book adequate for your need?""The book? Yes I believe it will be adequate for the task." Jake is quiet for a dozen footsteps before he adds, "I did consider your advise regarding the gods." He is quiet again until they near the hotel. "I'm not so good at apologies when I don't think I have done anything wrong." Jake gives her a look and a small smile. "We just had a misunderstanding out behind the Lucky Lady. It's not that I haven't had my face slapped before for things I'd said, but I would never, you know, force myself...." Jake's small smile turns into a grin. "It is regrettable that we had that misunderstanding. I hope we can continue to be friends." He doesn't wait for her reply and bounds up the stairs. Jake and Minerva enter the Promise City Hotel and he asks for Melissa Smith. "Mrs. Smith, Ruby West and I would like to stop in for a special dinner tonight. Do you think you could make room for us?" "Of course Mr. Cook," she replies, "but on short notice you'll have to choose from what I have in the kitchen." Jake leans in to her and says quietly, "Melissa, what you do with food ought to be illegal, for we are all addicted to your cooking. Treat us to whatever you think is wonderful, and if you can have something chocolate for Ruby that would do ME a world of good." Melissa Smith hides her little smirk in her apron and nods yes several times to Jake. He gives her a smile with a tip of his hat and leads Minerva out the door.They re-enter the street and Minerva turns to Jake. "Senor Jake, I too owe you an apology. I knew that you were not that kind of man, but well, "she shrugs her shoulders, "There are many strange things taking place lately. Por Favor, I want you to know that you can count on my friendship. By the way I would like to thank you for helping Nanuet dress for our date. It was quite a successful evening." she beams. "You are a good friend." she say and hugs him. "Now I must go and find Nanuet and ask him to escort me to the Ball. Do you know where I might find him?""He might be at the Lucky Lady, I really don't know where he is. Funny that one, he tends to be around when I need him though." "Senorita, used es una mujer hermosa." {you are a beautiful woman}" Jake says matter of factly. "Forgive my brazenness, but it seems strange to me that given all the men in Spain that not one of them was able to win your heart in the years since your maturity. Is it the way of your vows to remain uncommitted to a man? I watch you and my Indian friend becoming, ahem, close." Jake laughs, "You've got that poor savage following you around like one of Ruby's puppies. It would be fair for you to say that it is none of my business. Yet I worry about Nanuet. In some ways he is like a teenager just learning about girls." Jake removes his hat and runs his hand through his hair. "Damn, I don't know exactly what I'm trying to say. I just hope that the two of you are headed for the same place in your lives. If not one or both of you is going to get burned." Jake kicks some dirt with his boot. "Just say shut up Jake.""No, You are Nanuet's friend and you are my amigo also." she says placing her hand on his. "I am honored that you can speak your mind without reservation. It is the test of a true friend to be able to do so. You ask if my vows prevent me from having a man in my life. No they do not but until recently it has been my heart that has prevented me from doing so. Do not worry for Nanuet. I will not hurt him. There can be no other beside Nanuet. I knew that when I met him. It is true that we are in love and that it all happened very quickly. But I am not afraid of what the future will bring and neither is he. Our union is blessed by the gods senor."The gods, hmmm. Well, I wish you luck and perseverance. Will you be coming back to the Lucky Lady in search of Nanuet or Ruby?"  "Si, I must find Nanuet. I will talk to Ruby in the morning." Jake offers her his arm and they walk back quietly to the saloon.   "Good evening, Senorita." He says and makes his way up stairs. Once there he washes up. He selects one of the new outfits Ruby helped him select in Tombstone, the one with the woven rose vest and plaid pants of dark brown and fine gold colored thread. He feels a bit naked without the gun belts and only the derringer. At the last minute he tucks the double action revolver in the back of his trousers and covers it with the ash grey waist coat. "I'll be glad when Johnny Ringo is in a six foot hole," he mumbles before going downstairs. Once down stairs he snaps his fingers and walks quickly over to Drovers. After some time there he comes back to the saloon to wait for Ruby and enjoy a drink.</blockquote>

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