The Dodge House stood out from the buildings around it. It was of better construction, and though it looked old, there were signs of work on the building's exterior that showed that it was a well maintained edifice. It was three stories tall, and had an exterior that was mostly brick, with a dark wood that complemented it nicely. The front of the building faced Front Street and the railroad tracks and had a wooden deck on the outside with a roof over it. Two lanterns hung overhead, lighting the stairs that lead up to the building and making the door clearly visible. There was a sign indicating a stable around back, and a hitching post in the front.

Daniel nodded at Cora's request to let her know of any card games, "O'course I will, ma'am. Mebbe I'll even put a wager on yer skills if anybody's amenable."

He listened to her response about her history and nodded at all the right places, while frowning when she mentioned her father had passed. "Sorry ta hear yer paw ain't aroun' no more. I feel lucky I still got muh parents an' muh siblins. We travelled around a bit, yeah. Uncle Gabby made some lucertive discoveries down Texas way. Lucertive enough that his sister brought 'er family there. That'd be muh maw. Sadly things went sour down there an' we ended up in Topeka. It's a fine enough place, an' paw's barber shop does purty well. But I been there too long, ya know? Time ta move on, get a shop of my own, start a family, and so on."

He shrugged slightly, "So we traveled a bit, yeah. Uncle Gabby's been to Californy 'fore, so he's more traveled'n me. None o' what I seen is anythin' like New York City, though. What's it like there? An' Europe, that's a long trip. Where ya go over there?"
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 00:55, Fri 14 Dec 2012.

"New York is quite possibly the most interesting place on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.  The streets there are always busy with life and activity, no matter what time of day or night.  If you have ever been to a big city, imagine a much larger one, full of towering buildings and row upon row of lamps along every avenue.  It is a wondrous place."  She sighed, thinking of home and her mother there alone.

"We took a ship from New York to England and it took several weeks to cross, though the journey was fairly calming and uneventful.  I couldn't begin to describe London and do it justice.  It is even bigger than New York, far more crowded, and even more interesting.  Also exceedingly dirty."  She glanced to the hotel as they neared and gestured to the back with one hand.  "Were you going to stable your mount or hitch him?"

Randolph tips his hat to the Deputy, picks up his Gladstone bag and goes into the hotel to find a porter for his and Coraline's trunks.

Gabby's grin grows a lot wider as he shakes the deputy's hand. "Wyatt Earp? Well I'll be dipped in shit and rolled in breadcrumbs!"

"Well, I never heard that one before. I suppose you might know me from Wichita if you've been there - I used to do some lawin' back there, before I came here. My apologies - I'm not very good with names and faces, except criminals, and you ain't one as far as I know," he said, the last part clearly intended as a joke as it came with a dry grin.

"Naw, we ain't met." Gabby says. "But the Epitaph mentions your name an awful lot, usually in fairly glowin' terms. The folks in Tombstone tend to make you out to be a regular hero, they do."

He knuckled one of his mustaches. "Well, I guess I do occasionally get involved in the kinda thing that the Epitaph might write about. Not much of a newspaper man, myself though. I suppose I've heard about that before, but I tend to forget about it. You said you were goin' to California earlier - got any idea whereabouts? I used to drive a stage back there in the Imperial Valley, though I guess some o' that ain't there no more. I was a teamster too - ran goods from Wilmington to Salt Lake City. Now that I think about it, I guess maybe that ain't there either. Damn earthquake."
This message was last updated by the player at 22:44, Tue 18 Dec 2012.

Daniel listened intently as Cora described some of the bigger cities out east, his face exhibiting some degree of wonderment at what they must be like. "Ma'am, the biggest town I ever seen ain't nuthin like a city. So's hard fer me ta 'magine, but it sounds interestin'. Mebbe I'll git ta one someday."

He regarded Jacques at her question, "Ima gonna hitch Jock for th' time bein', but I'll stable 'im fer th' night. Er what's left of it. If anyone's even 'round at this hour."

He took care of the hitching and then moved ahead of Cora to open the door for her and gesture for her to enter ahead of him. Once they entered, he looked around for Mrs. Linkous and for someone to help them with their accommodations.

In reply to Wyatt Earp (msg # 8):

"Well, you might start readin' that one. I reckon Marshal Morgan told you 'bout how we came to capture this fella here? Well, them deadders he was usin', they took grievous bodily harm without so much as a flinch. Shootin' 'em in the head was the only thing that worked, and I only figgered that trick out 'cause o' somethin' I'd read in the Epitaph. To be honest, I never really did believe half o' what they spouted afore it was starin' me in the face." he pets Clementine. "Well, I was mostly in the Sierra Nevadas, near Coloma. You know, real '49er stock here. Things got bad after the quake, sure enough...even up in the mountains things got hard. I tell you, the week o' the quake I didn't get a lick o' sleep. Had no idea what was goin' on fer a while after, until the survivors started driftin' through. Now, I'm headed to the coast. There's a place called Gomorra near Shan Fan there that's supposed to be sittin' on a good amount o' Ghost Rock. Never did much rock minin' before, but I'd like to feather my nest a bit."

Morgan smiled and shook his head slowly as he listened to Earp and Gabby talk about their travels. "You gents have seen a lot more of this country than I have. I'm afraid Kansas and a bit of Missouri makes up most of the territory I've seen." He glanced at Earp. "I've heard about some of what you did in Wichita, Deputy Marshal. You're a fine lawman by all accounts."

Stepping toward the Dodge House he added, "If you gentlemen will excuse me, I'm going to try and get some rest. Morning will be here before we know it."

Taking his leave, Morgan entered the hotel.

"Well, we'll see if that reputation holds up over the next few days. I think you're onto something though. Gentlemen, pardon my bein' abrupt but I'm gonna have to get this sonuvabitch in a cell and get me to bed before I sit here jawin' all night. Too much work to do," he said. With a wave, and without any more ado, he began to guide Radcliffe's horse and buckboard away from the hotel and towards the jail.

Gabby tips his hat to the lawman, takes his luggage, and moseys on into the boarding house.

The Dodge House was bustling in the morning, a moderate number of guests sitting in the hotel's dining room and enjoying a leisurely breakfast. A pleasantly light lull of conversation filled the air, and occasionally a serving girl would pop out of the kitchen with a plate or two for a guest. Included in the price of the nightly stay, plates of eggs, bacon and a dish of fried potatoes and onions were set down n front of anybody who wanted any and one mug of coffee as well. Some people, though not many, ordered extra items to have on their plates but the price here was steep enough without adding too much to the bill.

Daniel was never one to oversleep, but they had an awfully late night. Still, he rolled out of bed feeling reasonably chipper this morning. There could be any number of reasons for that, though exercise was often the culprit and he had plenty of that the prior evening.

He quickly got ready, donning his usual attire before wandering downstairs to the smell of appetizing cuisine. Among the smells were bacon, and that made him nearly giddy. He looked about for his traveling companions, wondering if any preceded him to the dining room. He could have woken Uncle Gabby, but felt it best to let his elders get their rest lest they be cranky all day.

Seeing no one he recognized around, Daniel looked for a table large enough for the rest to join him when they awoke and made it down to the dining room.

From behind Daniel, somebody messed up his hair before sitting down right in front of him with a plate full of eggs, sausage links, bacon, potatoes and some toast.

"Hey there barber boy!" he said with a chuckle, digging into his potatoes. Swallowing, he continued. "Say, how's about you gimme a haircut? Just don't use that big ol' sword you got. You still carry that thing around, wavin' it here and there and all?" He guffawed for a moment as if he had just made a great joke and went back to eating.

The morning was not kind to Gabby. He wasn't a young man anymore, and no other time reminded him of that more than mornings. The years he'd spent running various mining claims gave him an internal clock that got him up at dawn, whether he wanted to be or not, but the aches and pains needed to be worked out of his joints before he could really be in any shape to move.

Today the aches were especially bad--the long night of adventure had caused him to miss his normal bed time and had been stressful enough in their own right to add a layer of stiffness to his already-complaining joints.

After a few minutes working at the kinks in his knees and elbows he was mobile enough to stagger to the chamberpot for his necessaries. Clementine, fresh-faced and full of energy, leaped up happily and began running and barking all over the room. Gabby allowed himself the indulgence of a tiny bit of black-hearted jealousy for her youth and energy before yelling at her to shush for a moment. She ignored him, like she always did when he was cranky in the morning.

Once he finished his necessary, he washed his face and hands in the basin, ran a comb through his hair and beard, shook his head at the few strands that stuck in the comb (he had few enough hairs on the top of his head at it was) and then dressed for the day. Then he staggered downstairs to scare up a meal and some badly-needed COFFEE.

He found Danial there quickly, talking to someone he wasn't sure he recognized. He sat down, and though he was happy with the meal provided, he also ordered a side of ham for Clementine and that she bring him a whole pot of the coffee rather than just the smallish mug provided.

"Mornin'," he croaked at Danial and the other fella.

Daniel rolled his eyes while Oscar couldn't see him and stifled the urge to sigh. "Howdy, Oscar." He turned his face toward Oscar and faked a smile as best he could. "Sure can give ya a haircut. Always got muh kit with me, ya know that."

Oscar had always been one of those guys that gave Daniel trouble. Not real trouble, but he was always the sort to stick his finger in your ribs for fun. Oscar was slightly older and more well off than Daniel, and never let him forget those facts. "Still carry it 'round, Oscar, even sleep wit' it nexta me."

Daniel took a bite to eat, then tried to engage the slightly older man in conversation, "So what brings ya ta Dodge? Just passin' through, or ya relocatin' here?"

He nodded at the older man, and returned to alternating his attention between Daniel and his food, sometimes not fully having made the decision and talking with his mouth half full.

"Just down here for cattle. There's money in cattle, and they come through Dodge. Thought I might do some buffalo huntin' too while I'm down here. Money in that too. More money in cattle, still. What about you? You here to trim the wigs of the fine folk' o' Dodge? From what I can see you got yer work cut out for ya. I ain't seen a worse mess o' hair in my whole damn life." He chuckled at that again, very pleased with himself, as he tended to be.

"Especially that crazy Chinaman I saw outside. He's got a cart and a mule and is sellin' all kinda shit. I don't think I ever seen a Chinaman snake oil salesman but I think this guy is it."
This message was last updated by the player at 22:03, Fri 04 Jan 2013.

Daniel nodded at the explanation, "Not plannin' ta stay here too long, naw. Me an' me Uncle Gabby are headin' west ta Californy. But I'ma head downta the local barber shop, see if the fella in charge needs a hand fer an hour or two. Mebbe see what's up in the town."

Daniel laughed at the description Oscar gave of the Chinaman. He was always worth a laugh or two, even if it was too often at Daniel's expense. "Now that I gotsta see. Once I'm a-done eatin', o' course. Actually, mebbe you can help out with gettin' me acclimated ta Dodge. Anythin' interestin' goin on 'round here? Or do ya know of any good card games?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:24, Sat 05 Jan 2013.

Having slept reasonably well despite the late night, Coraline arrived at breakfast neatly dressed in one of her best traveling dresses.  The deep green complimented the blush in her cheeks nicely.  Spotting Daniel and his uncle with a man she'd never seen, she joined them at their table and smiled pleasantly.

"Good morning," she said cheerfully as she took a seat.  Taking one of the plates, she began to help herself to the platters of food on the table.  Though her figure was quite slim, she wasn't shy about piling on the food.  She didn't believe that women should eat like little birds.

Oscar whistled at the sight of Coraline, but didn't otherwise conduct himself too disrespectfully other than occasionally passing an only sometimes improper glance at her as he spoke to Daniel.

"If you want a good card game, you wanna go to one o' tha saloons down by the tracks where the trains come in. Sometimes they run all night long. It's gonna be real busy what with the big celebration for the Fourth o' July comin' up. I never known you for a card player, Danny Boy, but if you got some skills at that you can clean up good prolly. Prolly be a lotta tinhorns from Back East you can part with their money."

Despite the luxury of sleeping in a bed, true rest had eluded Morgan for most of the night. He'd found it hard to settle down from the events of the day and even harder to keep his mind off of the recent events in Hays. He was restless to get out of town, to begin hunting those responsible for the slaughter. The war was years gone, but Quantrill still cast a long shadow across the land.

Even so, he had promised Earp his help. That came first.

Morgan sauntered downstairs. The breakfast on offer was generous, though he didn't have much appetite. Finding a cup of coffee, his chief priority, he gathered a bisuit and some bacon onto a plate.

"Mornin' everyone," he said, taking a seat. Sipping his coffee, he listened to Daniel converse with a young man he didn't recognize.

Daniel was glad Coraline had made it down just in time to hear Oscar's answer concerning card games in the area. Saved him having to try to explain it to her.

He had a warm look and nod for those that sat down with him while Oscar was speaking with him. Given that Oscar didn't know anyone, introductions were probably in order. "Mornin', ever'one. I'd like ya ta meet a fella I knew from back in Topeka. His name's Oscar White an' he's here ta see ta some business intersts, an mebbe do some huntin'."

He then went around the table introducing the posse in turn. He gestured toward each as he introduced them, "Muh uncle Gabby, I suspect ya recognize from back in Topeka.  Th' graceful and allurin' lady is Miss Coraline Hawthorne. An' this gentlemen is Mister Caleb Morgan." He didn't offer any more details on the others since he didn't feel it was his place, choosing not to mention that it was Coraline that was interested in a card game.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:23, Sat 05 Jan 2013.

"Good morning to you, Marshal," she said to Caleb as he joined them.


Oscar's mention of the card games got her immediate attention.  She completely ignored the whistle.  Nodding at the introduction, she smiled and leaned a bit closer to the newcomer.  "These tinhorns with the plentiful cash, do you think they'd be opposed to sitting down to a game of cards with a dashing young woman?"  Her smile broadened at the thought of raking a few over the coals.  "My fingers have been itching for a rowdy game of poker since I left New York."

PM
This message was last edited by the player at 16:49, Sat 05 Jan 2013.

Gaby nods at Oscar. "I think I done seen you about, come ta think on it." he says, sipping his coffee. Clementine goes up to the stranger and starts sniffing.

"Prolly did," Oscar said between mouthfuls. The White family was a big name in ranching in Kansas, especially so further to the eastern part of the state. Oscar was always doing something or the other for them around town, and when he wasn't he was a frequent layabout at saloons and such.

Daniel thought it best to add a little to help Gabby along. "His folks owned a big  ol' ranch jus' outside Topeka. Our paths crossed more'n a few times." Sometimes it was enjoyable, sometimes regrettable. Always memorable, though.

"So ya got anythin' planned fer yerself durin' the centennial festivities?"

"Just business. Gonna make a couple deals, hopefully. Get out soon as I can. Not everyone's jazzed up about it, if you know what I mean. I'd rather as soon steer clear of the whole thing. Got no time fer politics." Oscar, like the rest of his kin, didn't really care much about the war between the states in terms of having a favorite. They'd take advantage of it at times, maybe imply a preference to sweeten a deal, but had little in the way of true convictions.

"As to the card game, I don't think anybody's have a problem with playin' a hand with a lady like you, ma'am. But there's some good hands at a game down here, don't take 'em too light. Wouldn't want a pretty young thing like you taken for her money."

Looking at his empty plate and cup, he stood up and dusted off his hands. "Well, that's it for me. I gotta go meet some folks. Try not to cut anybody's head off with yer pig sticker Danny Boy!"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:46, Mon 07 Jan 2013.

"Oh, yeah!" Gabby says. "I remember ya now. Well, hope your business dealin's go smooth." He watches White depart, then tuns to Danial. "He seems nice enough, though I seem recall a spot o' trouble with a drunk...somethin' about wantin' to stick him on account o' his sunny disposition gettin' on the drunk's nerves.  Didn't you step in there?"

Daniel nodded at the response from Oscar. "Sure do know whatcher talkin' bout." Daniel smiled and offered his hand as Oscar made ready to depart. "Good luck with yer cattle and the buffalo. Mebbe we'll be sein' ya 'round."

Daniel looked to his uncle as the elder man spoke and crinkled his brow, "Oscar's never been the sort to cause too much real trouble, and he can get out of most of it with his wit and gunplay. I did have'ta smooth things over fer him once or twice. There was the time with the drunk. And then there was a girl he was a'gettin' inappropriate with. Her husband weren't none too happy."

He looked around at those at the table. "So wha's on the 'genda fer today, folks? Miss Hawthorne, I think ya know where ta play cards. I may stop by the local barber fer a chat. Radcliffe seems ta be safely in th' clink. I ain't seen Missus Linkus or Mr. Darlin' yet."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:59, Mon 07 Jan 2013.

"Well, actually, the Deputy Marshal o' town was real impressed with how we done caught Radcliffe." Gabby says over a sip of coffee. "He asked me to pass on a request, as he's short-handed for the Fourth o' July and is looking' fer a few extra hands. He said he was payin' $10 a day fer deputy work, and I was thinkin' o' signin' on."

Daniel's eyebrows inched upwards at Gabby's revelation. "I'll prolly join ya, uncle. What about that widow an her kids from Hays? Mebbe as part o' bein' a deputy we can find her an' ask some questions?"

"That's what I was thinkin'." Gabby says, nodding. "Havin' a badge might get her more inclined to share the details, as opposed to some random folk stoppin' by and pokin' their noses in sensitive places."

"Miss Hawthorne," Morgan replied to Corlaine's greeting. As he sipped his coffee he listened in amusement as White cautioned Hawthorne about gambling in Dodge. He imagined that some gamblers in Dodge would be in for a rude awakening, especially if they underestimated the young woman's abilities.

Morgan nodded mutely when Gabby spoke up about Earp. A few extra hands to keep the peace. On the surface, that seemed simple enough, but knowing of the Deputy Marshal's instincts, it made Morgan think there could be real trouble involved. Not that trouble was a hard commodity to come by in Dodge City. They would all need to be ready and watchful.

"I intend to do some shopping, if there is any to be had in this town.  And perhaps go sit with the dregs in a game or two."  Money was her motivation and any mention of an easy score that didn't involve her taking off her clothes was of immediate interest to her.  She smiled after taking another bite of bacon.  "The Wyatt Earp?  The famous lawman?  I think everybody has heard of him.  Is he really short on deputies?"  Coraline wasn't really the sort that seasoned lawmen would hire on as a deputy.  She was pretty, well-dressed, and didn't carry any obvious weaponry.  However was quite observant and could often suss out trouble before it started.

"The very same." Gabby says with a grin. "He indicated that the Forth o' July got rowdy 'round these parts, and was impressed with how we took down Radcliffe. He asked after all o' us, Miss Hawthorne included, so I reckon his hands may be short indeed. Anyhow, I told him I'd pass his offer on."

Daniel arched an eyebrow at the mention of Wyatt Earp. He'd heard a few things about the man, though probably didn't know as much as the others. Still, they all seemed impressed. "Wyatt Earp, ya say? Not many folk I'd rather be deputized by. Present comp'ny excepted, o' course."

Having been first to the table, Daniel finished the last of the food that had been placed before him. He then started looking around to see if others weren't going to finish. They had gotten a lot of exercise the day before, but sometimes Gabby didn't eat all his bacon. And Daniel had a bacon weakness.

Gabby watched Danial eye his bacon. The boy was always trying to take his food before he was good and done with it, so he scarfed it down. Last night's adventure had given him a powerful appetite.

"Hey, anyone seen Mr. Darlin'?" He said after a look around the table.

"Do you mean that young man, the reporter, who was using all those two dollar words? I saw him earlier this morning at breakfast. He was quite an eater, I believe. Well, what I mean by that was that he seemed to shovel his food down awful fast - especially when I was about to come over and have a chat with him. He must not have seen me, or he would have taken his time over his breakfast. It was so strange, you know. Just before I got to his table he had finished everything and was already moving towards the door. I tried to get his attention, but he probably didn't hear me. Anyway, he left."

Jenny sat down with them, though she didn't have anything to eat for herself.

"Probably went to see Radcliffe, then." Gabby, mutters. "He wanted to get some words in with that rat last night, probably tryin' to get some kind o' scoop. You know, he done tried to convince me to go water Bessie, an' leave him all alone with Radcliffe. Didn't trust him then, and frankly, I don't trust him alone with Radcliffe now." he nods at Jenny. "Thank you kindly, ma'am."

"What do you think he was going to do if you left him alone with Radcliffe?" she asked, eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Well, the suspicious man in me thought he might stick an knife in Radcliffe. He was real particular about me not sharin' what happened out in the mine with the folk o' Kinsley, in order ta 'protect his scoop.' Now, I don't think that's what he was really plannin'...I expect what he was really plannin' was to tell Radcliffe to shut up about what went down in the mine, so that when his story hits the papers he'd get a bigger payday." Gabby sighs. "I reckon I might be gettin' a little untrustin' in my old age. I once made the mistake o' talkin' to a reporter about a silver claim I was runnin' in Texas. Three days later, I go down to the creek to find a dozen claims done sprung up overnight. So I don't like reporters that much. On the other hand, if it weren't for some things I'd read in the Epitaph, I'd not have known to shoot for the head when we done fought them deadders last night. So I suppose I shouldn't be too hard on him...I just expected that a reporter would want to spread the truth, rather than try to bury it fer a buck."

Daniel smiled at Jenny as she approached. "Mornin', Missus Linkus. I was just askin' th' others 'bout you. Trust ya had a nice evenin'."

Daniel sat quietly by, looking at his uncle as Gabby mentioned a few things about their reporter friend. Seemed like odd behavior, and Daniel didn't quite know what to make of it. "That's lotsa suspectin' and suspicion. Mebbe we could jus' ask 'im and see what he says. And how."

While they had arrived in the dead of night, it was hard to judge exactly how much custom the Dodge House had. From the look of things as they continued to eat, however, the place was absolutely full. There was hardly a seat in the breakfast area unoccupied and no more rooms with all the guests that seemed to be just then arriving. They had seen people being given keys, and then they had witnessed the rest who approached seeking lodging turned down despite their fiercest pleas. There simply wasn't room to be had.

The building began to get crowded, and from the noise on the street outside it wasn't that much better there.

Gabby grows cold as he spots a face in the crowd.

"Wainwright." he growled under his breath, in the sort of tone of utter loathing and contempt Southerners usually reserved for Abraham Lincoln.

Yup. It was him. You don't soon forget the face of the man who shoved a paper in your face which said he was stealing your dream away from you.

Gabby looks down at the remains of his breakfast.

"You know, suddenly I ain't so hungry as I thought I was." he says. "Ya'll want to finish my bacon, Danny?"

Daniel nodded without thinking. "Ya know I gotta bacon weakness, Uncle. Never could say no ta that sorta offer." Daniel happily bit into the crunchy bit of pig meat as if someone were going to suddenly change their mind and take it away from him. Once he had staked his claim to the uneaten bacon, he asked, "So why ya suddenly full? Thought last night've given ya a big app'tite."

"Ain't somethin' I'd like to talk about in polite company." Gabby says, nodding at Coraline and Jenny.

She frowned at Gabby.  "Why not?  You certainly like to talk about whatever else is on your mind, including badmouthing a friend of mine," she said a little heatedly.  "Mister Darling is a perfectly respectable person with a perfectly respectable profession and I'd thank you to not lay false accusations against him that have absolutely no basis in fact."

Gabby frowns. "I reckon you ain't been out West too long, Ma'am. How long have you known your 'friend' Mr. Darlin' anyhow? Two days? Maybe three? A train ride ain't any kind o' time to take the measure o' a man...folks is on their best behavior there." he says, quick to get defensive. "And what accusations I made is false? When next you see Mr. Darlin' and ask him what he was up to, he'll be polite and charmin' as all get out, but I bet you ten dollars cash that he's slipped out to try and speak with Radcliffe at the jail without the burden o' any other ears around for hearin'. Sure, he's brave as all get out...stood right up to all the deadders and poor ol' Bob without a twitch. But then he has the nerve," he slams the table, "the utter gall," silver ware clatters as he slams again, "to tell me to lie to the folks of Kinsley about what done went down because he wants to squeeze a few more dollars out o' the story when he sells it. That ain't accusation, that's the God's honest truth! The Marshal AND Danial were there to hear it!"

Gabby's voice was rising. He was getting heated himself, and he knew it, but this was a matter o' personal pride to him.

((OOC: -_- yay Big Mouth hindrance.))

"Mister Darling and I have been acquainted for years, Mister Clarke.  Years.  So I do believe that I know him slightly better than you," she replied with coldly.  "How can you blame a man in the newspaper business for wanting to publish a story before everyone else?  That is his job, Mister Clark.  Not to mention that he was probably trying to keep you from running your mouth at those poor, scared folks on the train that really didn't need to know the gory details of our excursion.  Honestly!  Most people are not equipped to handle what we saw in that mine.  I heard him say quite clearly that he thought it best to keep quiet about the true nature of things to prevent a lynch mob from forming.  Because that's the sort of thing that happens when good, innocent folk are scared witless by wild tales of monsters."

He might have had a big mouth, but she was stubborn as hell and not about to back down when it came to her friend's reputation.  "What's it to you if he wanted to interview Mister Radcliffe, anyway?  Last time I checked, it is a free country and Mister Darling has just as much right as the next fellow to make a living."

The room got quiet for a moment, as the busy nature of the crowd and the hustle calmed down as people stopped to stare at Gabby as he banged on the table. Of course, after a time they got back tot heir business. The nature of the conversation wasn't really ideal for Jenny, though she did have a nose for getting into situations she wasn't involved in and she wouldn't leave the table for the world. She would at some point find a way to jump in, certainly, though for now she was more than happy to listen to all of this.

"This ain't about his goddamned newspaper!" Gabby growls back. "This is about him tryin' to hide the truth o' things from them that needed to hear it most!" He looks at Jenny. "Tell me, Mrs. Linkous. You saw what went down. Hell, that poor monster tried to take you away with him! Would it have put you at ease, never knowin' what had happened to that thing? To wonder if it were still out there, lurkin', instead o' knowin' that it had been put down for good?"
This message was last edited by the player at 07:13, Fri 11 Jan 2013.

Getting involved in conflicts between other people wasn't really her strong suite. She looked cautiously at Gabby, and then at Coraline, and then back to the older man.

"I suppose..." she began, hesitantly, pausing before saying anything else. "I suppose it was good to know about all that. But also maybe it wasn't. You know, it's like seeing something scary like a snake. If someone kills the snake or it goes away, you're glad. But you keep thinking about all the other snakes out there and then you start to worry about them and when they might bite you and you have nightmares about snakes. Maybe it's easier not to think about them?"

Jenny tittered nervously, though she didn't look particularly amused.

"But it was already too late fer you not to know about the snake. It done already tried to bite. Hidin' from the snakes don't make 'em go away. Not thinkin' about them don't make them stop bitin'. But knowing they're out there, and that someone's doin' somethin' about them? Don't that make the knowledge easier to bear?"

Daniel was in a bacon filled daydream as everything around him occurred without him even seeming to notice or react. Arguments washed over his skin like water off a duck's back. It was like a little slice of hog heaven on his tongue with every bite. "Damn tha's some good bacon." Daniel patted his stomach when he had finished his uncle's bacon, happy with the fullness that he felt therin.

He looked back and forth between Coraline, Gabby, and Jenny Lynn. "Always been a fan o' lettin' folk know once a job's been done. O' course I ain't th' most savvy when it comes ta decidin' this sorta stuff. There's prolly a fine line between calmin' folk down from what they done seen and rilin' em up even more. Folk don't need rilin' up. But some of 'em are already riled."

He wiped his mouth of a few bacon crumbs. "Always thought newspaper men were s'posed ta jus' report th' facts o' the matter. Guess I never thought too much 'bout all th' other stuff they gotta think 'bout." He thought for a moment. "Wonder when that story'll be published, anyhow?"

Coraline couldn't understand how Daniel could remain so calm with his uncle yelling like a crazy person.  She glared at Gabby.  "You keep a civil tongue in your head when you speak to me.  I'll not have foul language tossed about at the breakfast table."  Her fork stabbed a bit of sausage violently.  "I would also point out that everyone has a opinion, Mister Clarke.  Simply because you believe those people deserved to know, doesn't mean you're right.  I happen to completely agree with Mister Darling.  If it had been up to me, I wouldn't have scared them with horrid tales that didn't do them any good."

She shuddered as Gabby reminded her again of what she'd rather not think about: that there were maybe more zombies out there somewhere waiting to get her. Jenny didn't really know how to answer Gabby's question, but what she really didn't envy was being situated in the crossfire between Gabby and Coraline. She did spare a moment to watch with amazement as Daniel seemed to shovel down the bacon without regard for what happened around him, but her astonishment was somewhat interrupted when he started speaking.

Still, she found it hard to leave the discussion well alone.

"Everybody has their own faults. As you said, Mr. Darling showed some courage going with you all down to that mine, but you disagreed with his opinion about whether or not to tell people. That doesn't mean he's bad and wants to kill people. Don't judge, so that you won't be judged - that's what my pastor says. Maybe you oughta talk to Mr. Darling and sort out your differences of opinion on the matter."

She stood up, and smoothed her dress. "Now, I think it might be best to calm your tempers. We've already had the Lord's name taken in vain once here, and once is already too much in my book. I'm going to go and telegraph my husband to tell him about the train and the likely delay." Saying quick and quiet goodbyes to them all, Jenny quickly left the Dodge House.

Daniel stood respectfully as the lady went to leave the table. "Farewell, Missus Linkous. We'll look fer ya later in the day, mayhaps."

He then considered the others. "Tha' was a fine meal, and I don' meanta rush nobody, but I'ma ready ta venture over an meet Wyatt Earp if y'all are."

"Why does everyone think I think he wants to kill people?" Gabby grumbles. "That ain't what I said at all." Gabby pushes away from the table. "People only get scared o' tales when they focus on the monsters, not the folk fightin' 'em. But maybe it's you who's the one afraid, Miss Hawthorne. Afraid o' folk knowin' what you can do when you shake that fan o' yours. I can understand that fear real well, and you don't have to worry. I was plannin' to leave that part out. I do have some discretion."

He stands and starts stalking off toward the law offices.

Daniel opened his mouth to say something, then closed it before it gathered any flies. He wasn't sure exactly what to say at that moment. Something would come to him soon. Perhaps he would have to explain about his family's rather uneven temper. She'd seen Daniel fight like a badger when he was wounded.

Of course Daniel was mostly in agreement with his uncle. He'd known the man most of his life and trusted his judge of character more than any other person he'd ever met. Gabby was right that there was something suspicious going on. Of course it's not like Daniel didn't have his own secrets to keep. Sometimes a person should just leave well enough alone.

He decided to hold out an arm as an offering to Coraline, "May I 'scort ya, ma'am?" He punctuated the question with a smile. "If yer done eatin'. No need ta rush if yer not." He eyed his recently vacated chair.

Coraline was left gaping after Gabby, too flummoxed to snap off another remark.  A surge of fear ran through her.  Could he really keep his big mouth shut?  What exactly had he seen her do?  Staring even after he'd gone, she didn't really register Daniel's words until his arm drew her attention.  She flushed brightly and threw her napkin down on the table.  "Well, I'm certainly put off my breakfast now, so why not?"  Rising from her chair, she took slipped her arm in his and steered him toward the door.

Daniel gave her a smile and a nod as she linked her arm with his. He wasn't entirely certain where the law offices were, and his instinct was to not ask for directions. He would almost rather wander the town aimlessly for an hour than ask for directions, but that would make him appear foolish to Coraline, so he quietly inquired with one of the attendants in the dining room.

Once he had received information on how to get to where Wyatt Earp should be this morning, he led Coraline on a brief stroll there. Though he was curious about several things, he kept conversation light and on inane topics.