The midnight hour nears. Travis remains near the road, keepin' watch while others rest or sleep before the appointed time.

To his surprise, Travis sees Hattie step onto the local road, through the trees just across from the Watson property road. That in itself ain't surprisin' but the fact that she is closely followed by another unknown person, still in the shadows, gets the soldier's attention right quick.

OOC: Travis may state a single action (not full round).

Draw pistol. Stay quiet.

Hattie looks directly at Travis. She whispers. "What's the matter?"

OOC: Hattie and friend: http://image42.webshots.com/43...1449110zJJIOu_fs.jpg

Travis keeps his weapon up.  Pointed away from Hattie but in the general direction of the shadows.  He remains ready but not tipping his hand that he knows anyone is following her.  His head is aimed at Hattie but his eyes remain surreptitiously on the figure in the shadows.

Good evening Miss Hattie.  Remember our chat on camp security?  I'd like you to tell me the name of a flower?

Don't say Petunia.  Please let this be Chance or Cole.

Hattie pauses. She looks confused.

The person behind Hattie says, "Seven," in a firm, assured voice.

Travis smiles (OOC: assuming he recognizes the voice) but doesn't lower his weapon.

It doesn't work that way when you're trying to get in the camp. Respond, come forward with your arms out and be recognized.   Three.

OOC:  I assume things will work out OK now.   This is my last for the weekend.  Departure is imminent.  Good luck and as the judge has noted in the thread name.  Good luck storming the castle.

OOC: Slight delay with final trip to store...  If Cole, I mean he, fails in his reply, it should go without saying, I shoot him.

In reply to Travis Sunday (msg #7):

"Six!"

Chance emerges from the shadows with his hands held out from his sides.

"Six."

Hey Pard.  Glad to see you.  We were just about to rescue you.

OOC:  Printing reservations...kids in car...horn honking.

"Thank you, Travis.  I am glad I had the right response."

Chance walks to where the others are mulling about.  "Has anyone seen or heard from Cole as yet?  I conducted a cursory check of my homestead and there was no readily available sign he was there.  He may or may not be there; I just did not see any sign of him.  I wanted to check the barn, but I was far to exhausted from trying to find him.  Hattie found me passed out in the woods."

Finally, Chance is able to pack his steamer and take a puff.  Ahhhh.

"Hattie thought you were ready to go attacking Tate and his men at my homestead.  I assumed she misunderstood you all."

Hattie speaks up as soon as Chance completes his last sentence.

"I found Chance keeled over near my house on the way back home from'ere. He was talkin' bosh and looked a mess. I reckon a little sleep helped, but he still seems a might confused."

"When he woke up, I told him all y'all were plannin' an attack. I figgered he had a right to know. But I also told him there weren't no use in tryin' to talk you out of it. I said I was plannin' to come join the fight. And I still aim to, ifn y'all are still goin'."

RECAP: It is midnight and everyone was stirring from rest/sleep and getting ready to depart when Hattie and Chance returned. The Judge assumes the group is near the campsite and eveyone is alert, aware of Chance's return and listening to the conversation so far.

Silas grumbles a bit at the sudden racket, pulls his hat up from over his eyes and sits up.

"Well I'll be," he says while looking towards Chance, "looks like you ain't face down in a gully somewhere. The you misses here is dead on, we're fixin' to go shoot them bastards up, we done had enough of this. Good thing you came along, another gun'll be welcome."

"Oh, so you have been able to remove my brother and mother from the house?  And you have found Cole to know he is safe?  Golly, I ought to have spirited away sooner.  You are quite the industrious bunch."  Chance looks falsely excited.  "May I see my mother now?"

Meriwether slowly stands & smiled "Tis good to see you ole chap. Where have you toddled off to may I ask? Your mother... well I am afraid she still resides in your family's home. Your brother as well. Well I suppose they do. No one has seen them you see."

Silas rises from his seated position, pulls his hat down on his head, grabs Ol' Hank and spits in the dirt.

"Guessin' we need to add not funny to your many talents Chance. I reckon ya figger that if'n your mama was here we'd have shared that news with ya already. I don't take kindly to your smart-assed remark neither and by golly I've had enough of followin' your lead. We done got us a plan to roust out them bastards tonight, end this thing and be done with it and we're gonna head out and get 'er done."

Meriwether dusted himself off as he moved to Chance's side "Silas may have a point about one thing dear Chance. That blackguard Tate may indeed punish your mother & brother due to his men being killed. We do not know what horrors they face daily. A siege may do naught but make him & his men more desperate. I am not overly fond of charging the house. We may indeed bring misfortune to your family. However, everyday brings nothing but Hell to them in these men's clutches. If they were able to speak I am sure they would agree that a possible rescue was better than waiting this thing out. Do you really wish their suffering to continue? They are your family I will abide by your decision my friend."

"Meriwether, I respect your counsel.  Indeed, they may face indignations and worse, but their deaths are not acceptable."

"Silas, what plan have the lot of you concocted?  Do you intend to shoot windows and doors and aerate them to submission?  Do you seek to huff and puff and blow my house down?  What stoke of brilliance have you arrived at that will both free my family and find Cole?  Has Edwin spoken to you with an inspired tact?"  Chance's hand gestures are brisk and staccato.

"Silas, your aim is true, but your trigger finger is too fast.  Where will your plan leave me and my family?  In haste, naught but ruins will remain."

"I have restrained myself until now, but it is time.  This is MY family and MY house.  What do you care if anything happens to them, but that they live?  What do you care of my home, but that it remains?"

"It is my expectation to return to my home WITH my family.  If MY approach is cautious, it is because I wish not to lose all that remains to me.  If it is my plan that fails my family, I will have that burden.  If any other plan spells the doom of my mother and brother, .... well....  well."  His hand gestures are elevated to random and uncontrolled.

"If you rush the house and they destroy my mother and brother, then place the barrel of your Henry to my temple and release me of this mortal coil.  I cannot abide their loss."  Chance presses the finger tips of his left hand to the left side of his head.

With significant delay, Chance realizes he heard something which only now registered.  "What did you say, Meriwether, some of his men are dead?  Do tell."

Hattie moves closer as well, on the other side.

Owen interjects. "Mr. Chance, you were there, weren't you? In the road when the gunfight started? I was wonderin' the same thing Mr. Meri just asked. Where did you go when it started? I thought we were sharin' the watch that night."

In reply to Chance Osterfeld (msg #19):

Having heard enough of his chicanery, JEB presses forward and faces Chance square in the jaw as he speaks in a stern manner.

Do you take me for a fool, Chance? The dead men we’re referrin’ to are the same ones that caused you to skedaddle into the woods when I was starin’ down the barrel of a shotgun. Now I don’t know what passes for loyalty in these parts, but where I come from a comrade in arms would never leave me hangin’ the way you did last night. That gun fight was hellfire and I could easily have met my maker while you were runnin’ scared through the trees only to show up a day later to question our motives when all we can figure is you’re either dead or Tate’s prisoner. I have half a mind to be on my way and leave you to unconditional defeat with your goddam fool plan, but I swore an oath to see you through this and I’m a man of my word. But if you ever run from battle again, I will shoot you in the back myself like a deserter deserves.

Meriwether's brow furrowed! The Englishman was now completely confused. This behavior did not sound like his friend... not one whom had shown such stalwart conviction in the past...

"I say! Is this true? Did you indeed leave Jeb & the others upon the road? Tis not like you. I was not there but... but we must come to terms. Either that or we shall be at each other throats as Tate wins!"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:54, Sat 20 June 2009.