In reply to Cole Trayne (msg # 939):

"Everythang's quiet out here," Jake told Cole when the wrangler reappeared outside the building. "Nuthin' to report."

The Texan was admittedly a little curious regarding how things had gone inside, but he reckoned that it really wasn't any of his business, and that Cole would tell JEB and himself if he was so inclined.

OOC: Corrected error - I originally referred to Cole's reappearing "inside" the building, instead of outside. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 13:59, Sat 25 June 2016.

In reply to Jake Richardson (msg # 940):

The wrangler looks in Jake's direction and nods.

I was hoping my friend would have left a message for me. Any more information would be good information. Still, it was worth a try.

Now, let's head to The Cowhide. I have another friend there who might join us. And, JEB here might be able to help convince any friends who might be with him.

Cole then starts to head in the direction of the bar.

At least, I hope he will be there.

In reply to Cole Trayne (msg # 941):

By the time the three men reach the Cowhide, the sun has nearly set. Hands from the area ranches are just now descending on their favorite watering hole.

Having surveyed the gathering crowd, Cole's friend Luke is nowhere to be seen inside or outside of the saloon. Pausing to consider options, Cole's timing proves fortuitous, as he spies the Scot and the man called Fritz walking along the packed dirt road with a handful of other men, on their way towards a night of carousing.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:03, Sun 26 June 2016.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 942):

Momentarily glancing at JEB and Jake, Cole quietly remarks.

That's him.

Subsequently, the wrangler moves toward his old friend while making every attempt to be clearly visible.

Raising his voice just enough to be heard by his friend, Cole calls out.

Luke...

In reply to Cole Trayne (msg # 943):

"Cole! Ye fancy a pint, eh?" says Luke Hadden, smiling as if he had just learned that his drinks were bought and paid for before he ever stepped foot inside the Cowhide.

The squat Scot waddles over to Cole and slaps him on the shoulder. "Wot dae ye ken, pard?" he asks, mixing his dialects with ease, but puzzling the wrangler for a moment until the idiom sinks in.

Luke's companion from last night, Fritz, tags along and stops next to Luke.

It takes a moment for Cole to notice, being focused on his pard Luke, but another two men stop as well. One of them is the man he spoke to at the eatery that afternoon. Not the gossip, but the man who had carefully measured his words during the mid-day meal.

As the second hour of their watch ticks by, Sunday and Riggenberg adjust to the changing light over the India Basin. The first quarter moon provides enough light to continue surveying the water, but not nearly enough to see details.

On the other hand, the various points of human-produced light invite inspection. A group of men have lit a fire along a nearby beach, cooking some of their day's catch and passing around a jug. Farther away, other similar campfires are evident, including one perhaps a half-mile south that appears to be a group of celestials.

And the beacons on the wharf in Oakland reveal a busy district, with a small ship anchoring close to shore. Judging from its approach, the men concur without reservation on this point: it should be easy to spot a ship anchoring anywhere near the basin as long as a watch is kept--and providing that the watchmen can avoid the pull of sleep over a long night's vigil.

In reply to Luke Hadden (msg # 944):

Cole takes a deep breath and slightly sighs.

Luke, I was hoping I'd catch you before you got started. Remember, last time I saw you, I told you I might need your help? Well, it turns out I need you now.

After a slight pause, the wrangler glances at Luke's friends and gives them an assessing look trying to determine what condition they might be in...

Turning his attention back to Luke, Cole continues...

What do you say?

In reply to Cole Trayne (msg # 946):

Hadden makes a disappointed face, although his attention remains squarely upon Cole Trayne as he speaks from his heart.

"Iffin' ye need me, am game." He pauses and looks to Fritz, who nods in agreement.

The pause gives Cole a brief opportunity to get a better sense of the other men. They seem sober enough at a glance. In Cole's experience as a ranch hand, it's likely that they recently completed their duties on the ranch and were now ready to wet their whistles at the Cowhide.

As if reading Cole's mind, the squat Scot speaks again. "Noof time fae a wee dram, eh?"


OOC: What might appear to be typos in Luke's dialogue are actually intended mish mash dialect (at least, to the best of the Judge's ability and historical accuracy being secondary to game flavor).

EDIT: missing words
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:25, Wed 29 June 2016.

In reply to Luke Hadden (msg # 947):

Cole places a firm hand on Luke's shoulder, a small smile appears on his face. He nods appreciatively at Fritz.

No time for drinking, we need to have clear heads. But, I tell you what, after this is all over, drinks at the Cowhide are on me.

Then, after a slight pause...

Y'all armed? This could get a might messy.

In reply to Cole Trayne (msg # 948):

It is one of the other ranch hands that stopped along with Luke Hadden that speaks now. He steps up to interject and make his presence known, and while doing so, Cole remembers the name of Barnes -- the man with whom he had exchanged brief words at the eatery.

"These are my hands, Trayne. 'Course, they can do as they please on their own time . . . but I reckon it's my business to know whether they are mixed up in any difficulty."
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:46, Wed 29 June 2016.

Jake stayed in the background, arms crossed across his chest. As far as he was concerned, this was Cole's hand to play, and the rifleman wasn't dealt in at this point -- which was fine with him, it was pretty much what he had expected.

He glanced around and smiled. My Scots-Irish ancestors'd look at me like I was crazy in the haed if'n thaey knew that I'd stepped into a waterin' hole an' come out dry, the Texan thought, wryly.

Then he heard Cole say something that he wondered about, but he thought it best not to interrupt the big bug who stepped up and said that the men who Cole was talking to were his hands.

Last thang we need is me steppin' on this man's toes, an' him goin' on the prod 'bout us borryin' his hands . . . 'specially since thaere's at least a chance that some of 'em might git hurt if'n thaey're involved in our goin's-on.


OOC: I couldn't remember what our posting protocol was for unspoken thoughts, so I used gray and italics. I'll be happy to edit if the Judge has another preference.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 945):

ENS sets down his binoculars and rubs his eyes for a moment, then sighs as he turns to Travis.

There doesn't seem to be much going on down there, though another look in the morning light would be warranted... Do you think we should go on down there now for a look around Travis? Or should that wait for morning too?

ENS looks around the room to see if there are any portable light sources, since he neglected to bring along his own lamp.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:59, Wed 29 June 2016.

In reply to E.N.S. Ringgenberg (msg # 951):

I'm content looking from up here. If you think we could see better from the shoreline, we could go down.  Otherwise we just need to keep our 10:00 rendezvous.

In reply to John Barnes (msg # 949):

Cole inclines his head towards the man, clearly acknowledging his point. He gestures towards JEB and moves slightly to the side giving his friend an unspoken invitation to step up and speak.

On this issue,I think my partner JEB here would speak better on it than me.

In reply to Travis Sunday (msg # 952):

ENS rubs his chin.

Well, I'd like to get a look at these "tunnels" so we have at least a bit more information to take to the others... what do you think?

OOC: Time check for Travis and I?

In reply to E.N.S. Ringgenberg (msg # 954):

OOC: It is nearly 8 p.m. when the men are discussing what they've seen and what they might do next.

In reply to Cole Trayne (msg # 953):

JEB takes a step forward at Cole's cue,"If you mean by 'difficulty' I assure you we are not asking your men to do anything against the law. However, our cause is potentially dangerous but righteous. I think we have some time for a pint and I'm certain these men can handle their liquor, so let's take this conversation to the Cowhide and let me explain."

In reply to James E. Beauregard (msg # 956):

"Aye," says Luke, nodding at Beauregard's suggestion. "Yer thinkin' wi yer heid, noo, pard," he adds, as if he has had the pleasure of being acquainted with JEB long before this encounter.

The squat Scot moves towards the saloon entrance.

In reply to James E. Beauregard (msg # 956):

For his own part, the man named Barnes considers the ex-lawman while Luke and Fritz resume their path towards their favorite watering hole.

"A sound suggestion, Mister," is all he says, turning to follow his hands into the Cowhide.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:48, Sun 03 July 2016.

In reply to John Barnes (msg # 958):

Cole glances in Jake's direction, with a slightly optimistic look on his face. He then gestures towards The Cowhide, clearly communicating "after you.."

In reply to John Barnes (msg # 958):

JEB locates as private a table as practicable in a place like the Cowhide, orders a double whiskey for himself and whatever liquor the ranch hands/boss desire. After the drinks are delivered he gets right down to business.

"At a high level, we're on a mission of mercy to rescue young maidens from being delivered into a life of forced prostitution. I will get into the details if that is something that appeals to your righteous nature."

JEB pauses to discern reactions,

In reply to James E. Beauregard (msg # 960):

JEB perceives interest and concern in the faces of the men gathered around the long table. Finding a private table proved a challenging task, as there are only two long tables in the entire saloon, shared by a variety of patrons. Still, as regulars of the Cowhide, Barnes and his men -- with help from the barkeep known as Zed -- had easily persuaded several men to clear one table's end, giving JEB a relatively private venue for the conversation.

Luke Hadden, happy with his own double-whiskey, simply nods and says "Aye" in response to JEB's opening. Having already agreed to help Cole, his interest in the conversation is more courtesy than substance. As usual, Luke's pard Fritz appears content to let the Scot speak for him.

Two other hands that were walking with John Barnes, and have now gathered at the end of the table, defer to their boss, who has given his full attention to Beauregard.

"What matters now, I figure," states Barnes, "is what function you expect these men to perform."

OOC: The Judge assumes that Jake and Cole are also at the table, or standing nearby, as JEB talks. Feel free to clarify their positions as needed, including whether they are partaking in drink.

In reply to John Barnes (msg # 961):

"Double whiskey sounds good," Jake remarked, adding his own order to the one that the bartender was bringing over.

With seating at a premium, the Texan stands close enough to hear the conversation, but leaves the seats at the table for those who are more directly involved.

In reply to Jake Richardson (msg # 962):

Reckon, I'll join you with that there whiskey.

Cole keeps an careful, but discrete, watch on Luke.

In reply to John Barnes (msg # 961):

This gathering of men, Mr Barnes, is a posse of sorts and will perform the functions typically associated with such a troop.