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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 3262189" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 213, “Kate’s Answer“, Saturday, April 1st , 1882, 8:00 A.M.Kate was sandy-eyed and tired Saturday morning. It was going to be a long day, and she wondered if she hadn't been right to think she would not go to the ball tonight. But her word had been given, so go she would.  Just a few minutes before eight o'clock Meghan O'Hara and her girls Colleen and Cathleen came into the Cantina. Kate smiled and stood. "Good morning, Ladies. The horses are out in the stable, if you're ready." She led them out and saddled and bridled the three horses. "This is Meribel," she said, patting the horses nose fondly. "She's a sweet girl. I think one of you girls could ride her easily. She fast and she doesn't spook.  I've been working with these other two, we'll try them as well and see how it goes."  "What about this one?" Colleen asked, stroking the stallion's neck. "He looks fast." "And he is. I'm going to ride him today. I think he's a bit too big for you girls, he's really too big for me, but I have years of experience, I know how to compensate."  Kate led the little group to the outskirts of town and had Cathleen get up on Meribel. "Alright, lets see how you do."Katherine, Meagan and both girls spend the next hour riding. Katherine is impressed at how well both girls handle the animals. Colleen, the more extroverted of the twins, declares that she wants the less controlled of the two for the sprint finale while Cathleen happily takes to Meribel."Thank goodness I didn't take the girls out to the ranch," Kate whispered to their mother. "Colleen would have wanted one of those wild horses I've just begun to train."  She raised her voice to it's usual volume and said, "I'm satisfied. You both handle the horses beautifully. Mrs. O'Hara, I'm willing to let the girls ride them if you are."  She says that she is willing to allow it as well. They make their way back to town, the girls offering to help feed and groom the three horses in the stable.Kate says, "Thank you, girls. I appreciate that. Perhaps someday soon I can take you out to the ranch and you can see the horses I have there."  She and Meghan O'Hara left the girls in the stables. "I wish I could stay and talk, but I have another appointment in a little while. But I will see you all this afternoon at the children's games." Kate then went back up to her room and freshened up, replaiting her hair and making sure her green dress was none the worse for riding in it. She checked over all her equipment for the children that afternoon, and slipped out of the El Parador around 9:30, managing to go alone by hiding in the crowd. It was cool and quiet in the shady grove, and Kate found a fallen log to sit on and wait for Conrad to appear. She had been so busy the last few days she had managed not to think much about this meeting. Now that it was on her, her stomach was tying itself in knots. She took a deep breath and tried to absorb the tranquility of the grove as she waited.Nanuet "awoke" later than usual as he had stayed up late the night before cleaning up. He checked to see that everything was in order at the Lucky Lady before heading over to the Comstock house to see Minerva. "Good morning Bea, is Miss Minerva in? I'd like to sit with her for breakfast if she is."  She replies, "Oh, I'm not sure, been so busy baking and preparing for the festival and all. Let me go see." Bea heads up the stairs to check on Minerva's availability and Nanuet waits patiently for her return.While Nanuet is waiting a man hurries into the room. It takes Nanuet a minute to place where he has seen him before, then recognizes him as Ashley King, who had met them on the trail a few weeks earlier and helped take charge of the animals from the rustler's farmhouse.  He goes immediately to Bea and says, "Is the Priestess here? It is very important that I see her as soon as possible!"Nanuet glances at the man and wonders what his interest with Minerva is.  "Is something the matter? I am a healer myself, perhaps I could be of service?"  He gives Nanuet an odd look, then appears to recognize him and asks, "You were with the Priestess and the others out on the trail?"  Nanuet replies, "Which trial do you refer to sir?   Ashley replies, "A few weeks back, when you were herding cattle in your loincloth. You appear to have found yourself some clothing since then.""Oh, trail! My apologies, I do not have a full grasp of the language yet. Yes that was me and I have since retrieved my clothing. So I guess this is not a matter of healing or other priestly services since my offer appears to be of no value to you?" Nanuet replies in a rhetorical tone.Bea hurries up the stairs, Minerva responds to the knock. She opens the door to the breathless woman. Bea has a twinkle in her eye as she says “You are quite the popular young lady this morning! You have two suitors waiting for you in the parlor. I think you had better hurry, the air seems to be a bit thick down there." Minerva hurriedly puts a brush to her hair and puts her lipstick on before following Bea down the stairs. She fixes a gracious smile on her face as she breezes into the room. "Senor King? Nanuet? What a pleasant surprise! She says and crosses the room to kiss Nanuet upon the cheek and placing her arm around Nanuet's waist turns to Ashley King and says. "And how may I help you, Senor King?"  He says, "Um..well...I need to speak to you in private."Nanuet returns the kiss and says "Go ahead love, I'll just help Bea set the table for breakfast." Nanuet leaves Ashley and Minerva to help Bea with the setup of the table for their meal. He makes sure to pay her for his breakfast.   Once Nanuet and Bea have left the room Ashley King says, "It's my mother. We had some visitors at our ranch last night, some top officials of the church. They're here about you. They were contacted by senior officials in Europe who have accused you of using undue influence and mind-altering magic on the people of this town. They are on their way here now. I rode as fast as I could to get here first and warn you."Minerva rolls her eyes and sighs in exasperation. "There are those in this town who consistently jump to the wrong conclusions and pass judgment without a shred of evidence! It is not I who has been causing this mischief. I have been trying to put an end to it! Well l do appreciate the warning Senor King, “She says with a smile. "I will set them straight when they arrive."Ruby woke mid morning. The light was the same as usual but the noise on the street was practically deafening. Bleary eyed she climbs out of bed. Jake was still sleeping and instead of waking him she dresses quietly and heads over to see Mr. Gonzales for her next lesson on how to see invisibility.  She sneaks in the kitchen to take a muffin and no one notices her as the place is packed for breakfast. Jake hears Ruby moving about the room but remains lazy and doesn't get up. A while after she leaves he finally drags himself out of bed, gets dressed, armed and has some breakfast down stairs. He returns to their room and cleans his weapons then replaces the incendiary shells back into the long barrel Colt. He returns to the main room after that to wait for Ruby to return to hear their plans for the day.   Once upstairs at the El Parador Ruby greets Mr. Gonzales but looks anxious to start her lesson.  Gonzales is pacing his room and appears to be out of sorts.  "What's wrong Mr. G? Are you worried about the fencing matches today?" Ruby teases.  He replies, "No, I'm worried about a letter that was delivered special delivery a few minutes ago from Tombstone." He hands the envelope over to Ruby, It is addressed to Dorita Figueres, El Parador Hotel, Promise City, Arizona."  Ruby opens the envelope. Inside it is a heavy-stock card, and on it written out in large fancy script is the word “Three“.  Ruby furrows her brows then looks at Mr. G. "What does it mean?"He says, "That's the problem! I don't know. She doesn't know anybody in Tombstone and why would somebody pay to extra to have this delivered on a Saturday instead of waiting until Monday?"  Ruby gives the letter a serious looking at, then gives the same expression to Mr. Gonzales. She says plainly, "I think Johnny Ringo is going to show up for the festival. Perhaps he sent it, knowing you would get the letter and then be distracted from helping us." He returns the same serious expression. "Us?"  "The three of us, me, Kate and Sonoma. He may be threatening us." Ruby shrugs. "That's just a guess and hopefully, no, probably wrong. Have you checked it for magic?"He replies, "Yes, but there is none. Ringo you think? Hmmm, follow me." He leads her into the library and goes to the bookcase. He pulls out a few volumes along the wall. "I can't be positive, but I suspect that some of the margin notes in these books were written by Ringo. One has a date notation of 1881, which is when the library would have been in his possession. Look over some of these and see if you can find the word 'three' written in longhand like the note and we can compare."Ruby nods and carefully but quickly skims over the books looking for the word three, or even something close, like tree.  She finds a margin note describing a spell effect that reads "area of effect - three person maximum". She grabs the card and compares, seeing an exact match. Gonzales concurs with that assessment.She exclaims, "Damn it! Well, at least you know it is from him. I don't know exactly what three could mean though. It could also mean 3:00. I wonder what is going on at three. But you know," Ruby says biting her lip, "If this really was meant for you that mean he knows you are a wizard. Maybe he knows about us too."  Gonzales says "Or maybe you are letting your imagination run away from itself. Well, Dorita has heard about my mansion but never been inside. I think I had best show her here until we can better ascertain what this is all about."Ruby says, "That's probably a good idea. And if you could still show me that spell, I think it will be useful." Ruby looks at her feet for a moment. "I know he would never ever hide here, but if I had to, could I put Jake and our friends in here? If we needed to escape?"   Gonzales replies, "No, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid this place is only for myself and my little birds. There are things here that would be dangerous to one such as him. But I can do this. Mr. Cook knows that I can use magic to transport people, he even joined us once. So if you ask I will bring you both to whatever destination you choose to be safe."She answers, "Don't get me wrong, I don't think we're going anywhere. I'm just worried about him. Not just him, all of them. But don't worry, I haven't told him about here. As a matter of fact, this is the only real secret between us."  Ruby pauses, "Thank you for the offer. I hope we never have to take you up on it. Now, what do YOU think the letter means? I know you said you don't know but you must have a guess..."  He says, "I do not know. But I will go get Dorita now and bring her here. She will probably argue with me but on this I will not take no for an answer."  Ruby says, "Alright, I'll wait here then. She isn't going to be happy, who will run the Cantina?" Ruby shakes her head. "Forget it, just go get her."  It takes only a few minutes for Dorita to arrive back. She ignores all of the splendor of the room and instead rushes straight over to Ruby "Grandfather say you need help? What can I do?" Ruby glances at Gonzales who shrugs his shoulder and meekly says, "It's the best I could think up on the fly."Ruby smiles. "Yes, I do need your help. You see, you are like the mother I never really had and I need you to stay safe."   Dorita gives her a hug and says, "And you are very much like my daughter Angelica."   "I am?" Ruby's face shows her surprise. "What was she like?" Ruby takes Dorita's hand.   Dorita replies, "Was? Not was, is, She very much alive and full of life. She is back in Texas with her three husbands, although United States only recognizes her first marriage."  "I'm sorry, I meant is. I'm just distracted, especially today. But three husbands?" Ruby laughs, "That is where we differ. I doubt I'll ever marry once."Gonzales joins in and explains to Dorita about the note and how it is from Ringo. He says that he wants Dorita to stay in his rooms until they better know what is going on. She begins to raise some objection until he points out that it is not only for her safety but that of everybody else in the El Parador. He offers to show her a tour of his mansion, which she relents to.Postmaster Eddie Palmer arrives at the Lucky Lady. He has with him a special delivery letter addressed to Jake Cook.   "Good morning Eddie, if you'd like a cup of coffee just ask Maria." Jake accepts the letter from him. "Special delivery? That's unusual." Jake then opens the letter.  Inside it is a heavy-stock card, and on it written out in large fancy script is the word “Two“.  Jake frowns at it a bit before stuffing it in his shirt pocket.Conrad Booth arrives at the grove promptly at 10:00 AM. He is dressed in his best suit. He also has a look of concern on his face and dark heavy bags under his bloodshot eyes. He smiles, but it appears a bit forced.  Kate stood and hurried over to him. "Conrad, are you alright? You look exhausted. And worried."    Conrad replies, "I...well...your note. I took it as a good sign and did well last night at the Long Branch. But then after I got home I started to worry.....I'm afraid that I was up all night thinking about what you answer would be."Kate took his arm and led him over to the log she had been sitting on. "If I had realized it would keep you up, I wouldn't have sent it. I would have just found you this morning. You shouldn't be losing sleep over me." They sat down together on the log and Kate took his large hand in her two small ones. "Conrad, I... You are a wonderful man, something most people don't realize." A tear fell on her hand. "I want you to be happy, to have the things you desire, and to give you that I think.... I think I must refuse your offer."Conrad says, "Have..have you thought this through? Do you realize what the future will bring to you and your son? All of that is unnecessary, I....I would like you to give this some more time...please. Are you still planning to accompany me this evening to the ball?"    She replies, "I will accompany you to the ball as long as you still want me to. I have thought long and hard on this. But tell me, what do you think the future would bring?"Conrad replies, "I do not know. The future is uncertain. But the things that people will say about you and your son are untrue. You should not have to bear those and neither should he. Katherine, I know that you are not ready yet. This does not need to be a true marriage....I...I hope that some day, when you are ready, it could be. But for now you would make me the happiest man in Arizona if you would agree to wed."Kate replies, "Happy today maybe, and tomorrow. Even perhaps for a few weeks. But would you still be happy months from now? After we've been together in a home, living with a wife who can't truly be a wife to you? People asking you about your wife, about your child. Have you thought it through?"Conrad replies, "Katherine, I have given this more thought than anything else in life. Even my decision to visit my father in New York had less thought behind it. The other day when I approached those bandits behind the rock I was willing to give up my life to protect you. My relief afterwards was that you were safe, with hardly a concern for myself. When I had asked you an hour earlier I still had some doubts, but I knew right that moment that this was the right decision to make.""I wish I could be so certain," she said with a sad little smile. "I thought I was, and now... I just don't know anymore."   He replies, "Then give it some more time. See where your thoughts emotions lead you. We have until tomorrow to decide. I...I should probably get some rest, especially if I'm going to compete in the fencing competition this afternoon. I will see you then.""Conrad, would you...." She stood up with him and held on to his hand. After a moments hesitation she wrapped her arms around his waist embraced him, her head resting against his chest, barely reaching his shoulder. She only held on for a moment before stepping away. "Yes, you should rest. I will try to be there, but I may not be able to get away from the children."He is momentary shocked by the display of affection but quickly recovers and returns the embrace. He gently puts his hands on both side of her face and lifts her face up to look into his eyes. "Children are a blessing from the gods, I will never fret about sharing you with them." He then lightly kisses her on the forehead and then releases the embrace.Kate nodded, and Conrad quietly left the grove. She stayed there a few minutes longer to recover her composure before she returned to the El Parador. It would only be another two and a half hours before she had to start the children's activities. She decided to step upstairs and see Mr. Gonzales before stealing one of the men from the El Parador to help her set up and stay with her until others arrived and she was no longer alone. She stepped into Dorita's kitchen for a quick snack before heading upstairs.Dorita is not there. Pedro is busy cooking and helps Kate with a snack. She heads back thought the lobby just as Postmaster Eddie Palmer is stopping by. He says, "There you are. I stopped by a short while ago but you were gone. I have a special delivery letter for you Mrs. Kale."    "Thank you, Mr. Palmer," Kate said politely and took the envelope. She pulled a hairpin from her hair and neatly slit the letter open.A note is written out in fancy script upon the heavy stock card. It reads: Mrs. Kale, The time for playing games is over. Bring every one of the Latin, Greek and Atlantian books to the Last Ditch Mine, three miles northwest of Promise City, by 5:00 PM today. The miners are away for the weekend so it should be deserted. If you fail to comply you will find that each bullet inside my Colt has the name of one of your associates on it. J.P.R. </blockquote>

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