A cold night for all, a long night for some. A bright sun wakes the populace in The Flat, this last morning of January, eighteen-hundred-seventy-seven. Odd how the sun seems so bright, and yet the bitter cold lingers like an unwelcome relative. It is as if the sun is no warmer than a kerosene street lamp, lighting the way but doing nothing to chase the cold.

The deputy and his posse had found the suspect in the wee hours of the morning. Now each of the six men captured what sleep he could after the early excursion, having returned to his respective lodgings for the remainder of the night. By the time all the horses had been secured, and gear stowed, the men found themselves finally earning a piece of shut-eye at roughly 2:30 a.m.

A few hours later, rising, breaking the fast and preparing for the day, each man observes the icy conditions in the streets. Turns out that hunter knew of what he spoke; the rain had returned before sunrise, leaving a freezing thin layer of ice above the earth. The hour turns to 8 when the men begin their day. Most of the posse had planned to attend the hearings, now just an hour hence, and nothing about this new day seemed inclined to change that fact.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:44, Wed 24 July 2013.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 1):

Travis rises, dresses, arms himself and makes his way into the hall and towards breakfast.

Cole grabs himself a quick breakfast and heads towards the jail to join the others.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 1):

They say that waking up is hard to do. Now he knows, he knows that it's true. But, instead of waking up, he wishes he was laying down again.

Nevertheless, the day will press on with some duties are new for Randy Oldman. At the breakfast table, he will share his sincere apologies with any of the tenants of the Owsley's, and the proprietors as well, he disturbed in the middle of the night. He figures no harm would come of telling the tenants of the midnight ride of the posse to the Jameson spread. And how Randy found the spry chinaman hold-up in the loft of the barn. And even more of how the man tried to push Mr. Big'un off the loft, but he was too much the man to take the shove. And moreover, Randy's discovery saved the deputy and professor from getting jumped themselves, lesser men they are, and surely incurring injury or worse.

Following the meal, Randy heads to Earl's for a shave and a bathe.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 1):

Reckon I oughtta clean up a mite, seein' as how I'll be sittin' in front of a judge afore the mornin's done," Jake thought to himself, stifling a yawn with the back of his hand. It was late when they got back from Jameson's spread, and the ex-Wells Fargo man had found himself wondering what would happen to the woman -- Indian Kate -- whom they had gone to so much trouble to find. Jake smiled at remembering the grit that Kate had exhibited in what must have been a tough situation for her. Woman's got herself more sand than plenty of men I know, he concluded.

Jake walked over to the chest of drawers where the pitcher of water and basin were placed, and set his straight-razor and bar of soap down beside the pitcher. Ain't quite certain-sure what time it's gettin' to be, so I reckon I'd better clean my owndamnself up a mite instead of headin' over to the barber shop. With that thought in mind, the Texan set to work, washing his face, neck and hands before soaping up his face and commencing to shave. There was no mirror, but Jake had a steady hand and plenty of experience shaving in field conditions, so he wasn't too concerned about not being able to peer at his reflection as he set to work.

Once he had finished and wiped off the last bit of soap, Jake put on his clean shirt and trousers, pulled on his boots, and headed downstairs to eat some breakfast in the hotel dining room before heading over to the hearing. Wonder if Mister Snoddy'll be around this morning? An' iff'n he is, I wonder iff'n he's come to a conclusion concernin' that matter that had him all bumfoozled an' knocked inta a cocked hat last eve?

In reply to Jake Richardson (msg # 5):

The short sleep was somewhat restless as ENS continued to mull the investigation in his dreams. Nevertheless, he was able to get up and get ready for the day quickly, having weathered many a final exam's eve. He washes up and shaves in his room, puts on his good suit (leaving the Colt for now), and heads down for breakfast.

In reply to Randy Oldman (msg # 4):

"Mornin', suh. A pleasure to see y'agin," says Elijah Earl, when Randy Oldman enters. The man wipes down the barber's chair, quickly, and motions for Randy sit.

"How did the first performance turn out, suh?"