In reply to Cole Trayne (msg # 916):

A few of the hunters remain to listen to Cole, while Doney and other patrons return to the relative shelter of the saloon. Five men remain. No one other than the professor has followed the two contestants, although it seems any or all of these five might decide to catch up, as Cole suggests.

The same hunter that said a previous offer wasn't worth the trouble responds to Cole. "Are you givin' odds?"

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 917):

Jake moved over to within speaking distance of the men who were discussing betting. "I'll back Sunday, if anybody's puttin' money on the line."

The Texan thoughtfully scratched his chin-whiskers with his free hand as he considered the question of odds. I ain' never seen this Koegh feller shoot -- an' for that matter, pure shootin' ain't the same as this here fast-draw shootin'. An' fast-draw shootin' at a man who's shootin' back ain't the same as fast-draw shootin' at empty whiskey bottles. I'd wager that a man who makes his livin' huntin' can shoot. But I'm hard-pressed to believe that he can stand up to Travis in this kinda face-off.

Jake gestured towards Cole. "But this man's first in line as far as bettin' action. Anybody left over as wants to back Keogh, then we'll talk."

P.S. I don't mean to cut JEB out of the conversation. I have kind of assumed that everyone who hasn't either walked off (Travis, ENS, and Keogh) or gone back inside the saloon is within speaking distance. JEB, if you have any requests of Jake based on what you think he should be doing, please feel free to let him know, IC. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 15:31, Thu 29 Nov 2012.

In reply to Travis Sunday (msg # 915):

I guess I mean what promted this confrontation... JEB and I were talking to Doney and I didn't fully hear what was said... did this man rape a woman?

In reply to Jake Richardson (msg # 918):

One of the hunters, a young man who--while unshaven--seems to be challenged in regard to growing a full beard, responds to Jake.

"No line here. Nobody wants to offer odds worth betting against your man. No yet, anyhow." He looks at Jake as if expecting Jake might do so.

In reply to E.N.S. Ringgenberg (msg # 919):

Nope.  He was on his way to raping her, but I let that pass.  To tell you the truth we're fighting because he wants to.  I'm obliging him because his death, as tragic as it will be to his mother, will probably be a good thing for the rest of us here in this part of the world.

He could have stayed away from me, he could have kept his pie hole shut, he could have averted his eyes instead of trying to stare me down but he didn't.  He wants to fight.    Someone has suggested I'm just a bag of hot air.  I'm all blow.  He suggested I was a flannel mouth, and he probably thinks he's euchered me into a fight I don't want.  Well he may be very good with a smokewagon and fast to boot.  I may end up underground by the end of the day.  But professor, unless he's spent the last ten years doing nothing but perfecting the draw of a pistol and the killing of the man in front of him, I'm going to be tough to put down.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 920):

Jake glanced over at Cole, waiting to see if his pard would reply to the youngster's comments. He didn't want to elbow in on the other man's bets, if there wasn't going to be all that much action.

In reply to Travis Sunday (msg # 921):

Unless Myles Keogh is deaf in one ear, he has overheard the conversation between Sunday and the professor. It hasn't stopped him from trudging in the rain toward a ridge that would take the men out of the sight of The Flat's newest deputy.

In reply to Jake Richardson (msg # 914):

JEB nods at Jake's response and looks as if he's about to say something but instead furls his brow and walks back inside Doney's Saloon to look for the man named Whit Hubbard last seen behind the bar.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 917):

Cole looks at the man and sizes him up.

Odds? I was thinking of keeping it simple. I got $25 that says my man Travis is still standing when this is all said and done.

He encourages the man to walk with him, so that he can continue to keep an eye on Travis.

In reply to Randy Oldman (msg # 902):

Having passed Earl's place, Randy approaches the Mrs. Owsley's and the Frontier House. Ready to get out of the rain, he almost fails to notice a man sitting on the long, unadorned front porch, his back to the wall. It is the Chinaman.

"You work here?" asks Mr. Xu.

In reply to Cole Trayne (msg # 925):

The five men stare at Cole. Only the young hunter with the uncooperative beard makes any motion to follow the wrangler. The one who spoke to Cole about odds replies as Cole steps away. He glances at Jake and then Cole as he speaks.

"Nobody here will back Keogh against Sunday, without odds. I hope you and your twenty-five dollars are happy together."

In reply to James E. Beauregard (msg # 924):

"What can I do for you, deputy?" asks Hubbard, observing JEB's approach.

In reply to Travis Sunday (msg # 921):

As Travis speaks, ENS nods somberly. You are indeed on the frontier ENS! he thinks to himself.

Very well Travis, I wish you luck... though it appears you will not need it. Know that I am at your service.

With that, ENS lags back a few steps and looks about to see who may be following them.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 927):

Jake glanced at JEB as the Missouri lawman turned and went back inside the saloon. Jake had come here at JEB's request, but things had seemed quiet inside Doney's -- except for the words that had been exchanged between Keogh and Sunday -- and the Missourian had given no indication that he expected trouble or wanted Jake to accompany him inside.

So, Jake decided to walk with Cole and any of the other spectators who were interested enough in the face-off between Sunday and Keogh to stay out in the rain.

He stayed quiet when the youngster said that he wanted odds before he would bet against Travis. It seemed that the folks around here knew something about Sunday, at least by reputation. Jake himself had seen the pistolero in action only once -- the dust-up out at the camp. And it had been only a split-second, out-of-the-corner of the eye kind of thing, for the lighting had not been the best and Jake himself had been otherwise occupied at the time. Still and all, Jake had come away with the distinct impression that Travis was very quick at clearing leather, and was also very damned good when it came to using his side-arm.

It seemed clear that Cole knew Travis a lot better than he, Jake, did. So the Texan was a little curious as to whether Cole was confident enough in the outcome of the face-off to give odds to the young shave-tail . . .

In reply to E.N.S. Ringgenberg (msg # 929) and Jake Richardson (msg # 930):

Catching up to Cole, the rifleman finds that two of the hunters join him--the man who spit near Cole's boot and one of the hunters who talked about needing odds before making a wager on Keogh.

Glancing over his shoulder, the professor counts five men trailing along. Although the rest of the spectators have dispersed--presumably back to the saloon--these five include Jake and Cole, but not JEB. The other three appear to be hunters from the saloon, but he cannot recognize any of them in particular.

In reply to Whit Hubbard (msg # 928):

"I'll start with a whiskey. Then I'd like to ask you a few questions about the Chinawoman's murder."

In reply to James E. Beauregard (msg # 932):

Hubbard nods, setting up the shot of whiskey. "I do not know much about that. But I will answer your questions the best I can."

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 927):

Before the man is out of earshot, Cole responds.

Seems like even odds, to me. I don't know your man, you don't know mine. So, we both are looking in from the same place.

Still, I like to keep an open mind. What kind of odds do you have in mind?

Cole continues to walk however. He has no intention of letting Travis get out of his sight.

The Wrangler gives the man every opportunity to respond. But, he subsequently turns to the remaining men.

Anybody interested in a little wager?

In reply to Cole Trayne (msg # 934):

The three hunters walking with Cole and Jake listen to the wrangler. The same one that has been talking about wanting odds responds again.

"I reckon 3-to-1 would be fair enough. We heard of your pard, sure enough."

In reply to E.N.S. Ringgenberg (msg # 929):

Travis eyes stay forward.

Luck is an offensive, abhorrent concept. The idea that there is a force in the universe tilting events in your favor or against it is ridiculous. Only idiots rely on luck.

Travis turns and smiles at the professor.

So what I'm saying is thanks I'll take all I can get.

In reply to Mr. Xu (msg # 926):

"Yes, Mr. Xu, I perform here," Randy responds, "among other things.

"I'm Mr. Oldman.  You might remember meetin' me last night at the saloon."  The pugilist performer proffers the surviving husband some sympathy.  "Again, I'm real sorry 'bout your wife.  It's a real shame--her death and all.

"So what can I do to help ya?"

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 935):

Cole slightly raises an eyebrow as he glances at the man.

Never heard of your man. Betting in the dark, and giving odds, doesn't sound quite right, to me. Still, I'd be mighty interested to hear what you know about Travis?

Cole looks at some of the other men.

Anyone offering better odds?

The Wrangler then turns his attention back to the first man, and waits expectantly, for a reply.

In reply to Randy Oldman (msg # 937):

Mr. Xu stands up and bows. He doesn't respond to any of Randy's chatter, responding only to the actor's question.

"There is singer here who . . . " the Chinaman pauses, apparently struggling with his words " . . . who bother Mei Ling. He wear fancy suit; has clean face. I must speak with him."

In reply to Cole Trayne (msg # 938):

The other two hunters shrug at Cole's question. The man who spit near Cole's boot speaks now. "Alfred already told you. No odds, no bet." The younger hunter with the uncooperative beard shifts his gaze from Cole to the other two hunters and back again, but he says nothing.

In reply to Whit Hubbard (msg # 933):

JEB doesn't immediately drink the shot of whiskey as he continues asking questions of Whit Hubbard "I understand you went to the Chinawoman's performance the day she was murdered. What made you decide to see it?"