"Miriam," says Jacob Knight, evenly and without anger.

"Thank you, sir," Mr. Knight says to Jacob Richardsen. "I did not hear your name, sir . . . "

In reply to Jacob Knight (msg # 42):

"I'm Jacob Richardsen, sir," the Texan answered.

"But I oft-times just go by 'Jake'."

---

OOC: Fixed the spelling of "Richardsen" (I used the original spelling of "Richardson" the first time around).
This message was last edited by the player at 02:04, Sun 17 Mar 2019.

In reply to Jacob Knight (msg # 36):

Seeing others take the lead, Tracy had been quietly observing the interaction, noticing Mr. Knight's initial reaction to the Professor as well as Jacob and Walker's sideways glance, presumably regarding Mr. Knight's characterization of the group. In moments such as these, the investigator often liked to understand the situation as well as possible before speaking. Taking in all of the information, Tracy was inclined to agree with the Texan. These people needed help, and they needed it urgently.

After Jake introduced himself, Tracy stepped a hair closer to the Knights.

"I'm in, too. It sounds like Elizabeth needs our help as soon as possible." He paused a moment before continuing. "My name is Tracy Windham, by the way."

Concluding his address of the Knights, Tracy said, "I have some questions about the previous rescue attempt and El Presidente himself. Is there a better place to speak about this, or should we continue this conversation here?" He turned to look at his friends as well, also inviting them into the discussion.

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 43):

Miriam Knight gasped when the rifleman had introduced himself,  "Thank you, Father, for sending us another Jacob," she says in a low voice, tapering off when Mr. Knight glances her way.

"Much obliged, Mister Windham. I figure you have many questions. Let us meet at the Four O'Clock. We will tell you everything we know. And introduce you to the Paiute guide we have already hired."

He looks towards the other buildings in town. "Meanwhile, looks like you will need mounts, provisions and such. Those of you who join us," he says, looking first to Jacob and Tracy and then to Earnest and Dave, "may use my line of credit to outfit yourselves at yon trading post. The owner's name is Taylor." Knight points towards the building, which is clearly marked. "I will provide a mount and saddle for each of you."

He pauses a moment, then continues. "Now, I intend to compensate you as well. We can talk about that at the ranch."

Finally, he looks to the herbalist and the professor again. "Walker and RInggenberg, yes? If it's no bother, may I have your . . . given names as well?"

In reply to Jacob Knight (msg # 46):

Earnest listens thoughtfully as the others speak, when asked his name, he replies.

My full name is Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg... And I will acquiesce to the groups' decision.

He pauses a moment before continuing.

You said that you and the sheriff attempted to go after them... Has he dealt with this gang before? Do you mind if we speak to him about them?

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 47):

Jacob Knight nods at the professor's response.

"You do not need my permission to speak with the Sheriff. He knows what we know."

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 47):

Miriam mutters again, barely loud enough to be heard. "An earnest man. Thank you for the blessing, heavenly Father."

In reply to Jacob Knight (msg # 46):

"Thanks for the ride, I'm sure we'll be able to help out one way or another."

"My given name is Dave, but hardly anyone calls me by that name."

In reply to Dave Walker (msg # 50):

The ranch owner seems puzzled by Walker's remarks, for a moment.

"Dave . . . or David, Mr. Walker?" asks Jacob Knight.

Jacob Knight takes a small notebook from his pocket. He writes down a few things -- presumably the names of the men he is inviting to his ranch. After asking Walker to clarify, Mr. Knight quickly sketches something on a clean page.

"You should have no difficulty finding the ranch," he says, tearing the page from his notebook and proffering it to the four travelers.

OOC: See the new map for Group 0 -- this is what Knight gives to the heroes. The map is six inches wide.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:22, Mon 18 Mar 2019.

In reply to Jacob Knight (msg # 52):

Earnest takes the proffered map, nodding to Mr. Knight.

We shall see you at your ranch soon Mr. Knight.

---

OOC: Earnest will keep the map out in case any of the others want to see it. Earnest will suggest that they go to the sheriff for a talk before the outfitter, but I'll wait until the Judge exits the Knights in case there's more info to be had.

In reply to Jacob Knight (msg # 52):

Walker feels the man's confusion and clarifies... "You were sayin' we could get horses and tackle at the store on your line of credit. That's mighty nice of you, we'll take good care of thos' horses and don't worry we'll find your girl."

In reply to Jacob Knight (msg # 52):

Jacob glanced towards the building that held the trading post, and replied to the ranch-owner "Mister Taylor -- got it."

"An' yer right -- we was travelin' a bit light in that baa-loon, so we'll most likely need some trail supplies an' maybe some amm-ue-nishunn."

"Horses an' tack at out at your ranch, you said?"

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 56):

Walker, hearing Jacob's reply now understands he may have misunderstood Mr Knight's offer.

"Oh I see - sorry, my misunderstandin' "

"How far will we need to go? Should we be ready to be out in the bush for a few days? "

Mr. Knight nods as Walker and Richardsen sort out the particulars about the horses.

"Yes, yes. That is correct. My hands back at the ranch will have a horse tacked up for each of you, when you arrive. Does noon sound about right?"

He adds, as an afterthought: "I would suggest equipping yourselves for a few days, maybe a week."

OOC: It is 8:45 a.m.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:25, Tue 19 Mar 2019.

In reply to Jacob Knight (msg # 46):

At the talk of mounts and tack, Tracy felt a lump in his throat. He had never been a capable rider; at least, he had not spent much time on horseback thus far in his day. He felt it was mostly due to his good luck that he had been successful at all in his few previous attempts.

~Well, no time to learn like the present,~ Tracy thought to himself, grimacing internally.

"Thank you, sir, good to know." Windham replied to Mister Knight. Nodding, he continued. "Noon should work well, at least it seems to me."

"Are we ready to head out and meet up at the ranch later?" Tracy addressed his compatriots, his eyebrows raised in a questioning manner.

In reply to Jacob Knight (msg # 58):

Rather than respond directly to Mister Knight's suggestion of noon as the hour for meeting out at the Four O'Clock ranch, Jake began thinking out loud. "Let's see . . . we was gonna go by the tradin' post, speak to the sheriff -- an' I reckon that we owe it to Monshure Pwa-reh-eh to let him know what we're doin'. Plus, we'll have however much tieme the carriage-ride taekes to git us out to the ranch."

"Speakin' of the Frenchman, Mister Knight, do you have any ob-jeckshunn to our tellin' him about your daughter's circumstances, an' why we're doin' what we're doin'? Or are you tryin' to keep all that under your hat, as much as you can?"

Jacob Knight had listened to the investigator and the rifleman, nodding to the former on the subject of the noon meeting time. It had occured to Tracy Windham, as Jacob began to muse aloud on their activities, that noon is a relative term, especially on a cloudy day.

When Jake finishes his meanderings, asking the question about the mulberry man, Knight replies succintly.

"He already went to the Sheriff, I figure."

Jacob Knight points to the northern side of the road that goes straight through Grafton. "And there they are now."

Dave Walker, who had kept an eye on the locals, sees Poirier and the man who walks like the Sheriff at the same time that Mr. Knight pointed them out. They had just exited a building and they now stride deliberately towards the Prickly Pear and the men gathered near it.

OOC:The PCs have 24 hours RL to react before the Judge moves on with Poirier. Game-time, it's about 15 seconds. Long enough for speech, but probably not enough time for any question/answer interactions with PCs or NPCs. Of course, narrative is encouraged.

In reply to Jacob Knight (msg # 61):

Earnest takes in the conversation, nodding as appropriate. When Mr. Knight points, he looks in the direction indicated.

Ah, well that's convenient!

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 63):

Jake turned and glanced in the direction of the two approaching men. "Yep -- it lets us kill two birds with one stone," the Texan replied to Earnest's statement about it being convenient that the Frenchman and the sheriff were together.

"Wonder why Monshure Pwa-reh-eh is still hangin' around with the sheriff, seein' as how all he was doin' was droppin' off our guns?" Jacob pondered out loud.

---

OOC: Edited after a reminder from the Judge.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:33, Wed 20 Mar 2019.

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 63):

Walker takes notice of the men approaching.

~ Jeezaz Darla, we just got here - take it easy on us... ~

He gestures toward the men and asks Mr Knight - "This is the Sheriff who couldn't help you huh? Wonder if he's coming here to not help again?"

In reply to Dave Walker (msg # 65):

While he found it funny on the one hand, Tracy winced at Dave’s comment, hoping his feeling didn’t show on his face. Recalling how Mister Knight initially reacted to the Professor, the investigator figured that precise communication would be important with the Knights. He worried that Walker’s comment may be taken in the wrong light.

He turned and searched Knight’s countenance, attempting to spy any reaction to the New Yorker’s dig at the Sheriff.