In reply to The Dust Adders (msg #13):

Charging Bear looked at the undertaker, "Need to make arrangement for this dead man." He pointed back to the body that the Dust Adders were carrying.  "Might we come in?" The native son paused as the rain fell upon his head and looked up letting it hit him full in the face. After a moment, he brushed the water from his face and looked back at Undertaker.

OOC: Not sure of the time here.

In reply to Charging Bear (msg #32):

[[OOC: It's about 2 in the afternoon.]]

"Well, business has certainly been good this week!" The thin undertaker chirps.  "Yes, why don't you all come in out of the rain. Wouldn't want you to catch your deaths of cold, now would we?" He chuckles at his poor joke as he opens the door wider. The Dust Adders glare at him, and he swallows. "I'm sorry. That was in poor taste. Please, forgive the off-color comment."

The ranch hands file in to the room, carrying the body. Underhill goes to a ledger and picks up a quill. He motions for Charging Bear to join him. "Well, let's not waste any time. Was there any identification with the deceased? Has the next of kin been asked to identify the dearly departed yet?"

He'd expected the question, but still it hit him like a sledgehammer to the gut. Charging Bear looked over body. "No need to call in next of kin, the deceased was Nathaniel Frost." Charging Bear lets that sink in for a moment, "These gentleman and myself would appreciate it if you would treat his remains with respect."

Turning back to the Dust Adders, "I'm going to see about telling his family now. Beside Roland, is there anyone else?"

The quill drops from Underhill's fingers. He looks at Charging Bear in naked shock. "Really? I mean, are you certain about that?"

He goes over to the wrapped body, and pulls the blankets back. "Oh...oh my..." He gurgles. "Please...excuse me..." He rushes into the back.

The youngest of the Adders--Percy, Charging Bear thinks his name is--nods. "There's Audrey, and Old Man Frost. I think Roland should be the one to break the news to them, though...Old Man Frost doesn't like any of us."

In back, an urgent retching can be heard.

Charging Bear nods, "Thanks Percy. Now you all should clear out, I'm sure Evans isn't happy with any of you at this point.  I'll take care of talking with Roland and make sure Nathanial is see to properly."

Percy glares at him. "Where do you get off ordering us around, Cherokee? If it weren't for us, that monster would have taken your head off! Did you forget that you owe us?"

"Peace, kid." Little Tom says, resting a hand on Percy's shoulder. "don't go shouting. Ain't worth it. Besides, we gotta go meet up with Carl and the others."

"We got some business with the undertaker yet." Another Dust Adder mumbles. "Got to ask after our friends what got killed last night."

Charging Bear looks at Percy, the native son's eyes give him a cold stare. "I'm a deputy in this town... thats why I get to order you around Percy. I've little doubt that there's a price on all your heads even if you weren't part of last night's mess."

He shifts his gaze to the other Adders, "See to you're friends and go. As my gratitude to Carl for what he did, I won't mention you all are in town. But if you start trouble... then all bets are off."


OOC:
18:31, Today: Charging Bear rolled 1,1 using 1d4-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3. Intimidation.
18:32, Today: Charging Bear rolled 5,1 using 1d4-2,1d6-2, rerolling max with rolls of (4+3)7,3. Intimidation (White Chip).

Catching Carl's silent, meaningful, commanding glance, Jesse lifts a brow and screws up his face a little in thought.  Like this is just something he might want to buck against.  Makes him downright uncomfortable, no doubt.  But, with another spit, he reaches up to drag off his hat and step forward.  He does his level best to look church-going solemn as he looks to the missus, "Ah'm terrible sorry, ma'am.  Charlie wuz a good'un...  Its just shit the way he was done...  Just some damn shit...um...ma'am."  Without waiting to see the effect of his words, he turns away again and pulls his hat back on his head.  There, he did it.

[Private to The Stray: Allright, I'll fess up.  I have no idea who Charlie is or what's going on.  If Augustus wasn't there...  I wasn't watching....  SHAME.  Can ya clue me?]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:14, Mon 18 Oct 2010.

In reply to Charging Bear (msg #38):

"Yeah. You go on throwin' your weight around, Deputy." One of the men shoots back. "See where it gets ya in the end."

"You think you're such hot stuff? We ain't afraid o' Marshal Evans. Evans don't have the men to take on all o' us if we really set our minds to gettin' him gone. Hell, Marshal Evans don't have the balls to stand up to us."

There's a cough from the back door. Underhill steps back into the room, wiping his mouth with a handkerchief. "Gentlemen," he says, "This isn't the place for such hostility. Please. Respect the rest of your companion."

There's a general rumble among them, but it subsides. They gather around a coffin, doffing hats and looking down at the corpse within.

"Poor Charlie." Little Tom murmurs, to the agreement of the rest.

"You did well, Underhill." Percy says. "Can we see Luke now?"

Underhill looks confused. "I beg your pardon?"

"Luke. The other one o' our boys who didn't make it back. Where is he?"

"I'm really not sure what to tell you."

"Sir, we ain't no faintin' womenfolk. Whatever he looks like, we can take it."

"Or has he already been buried?"

Underhill begins to sweat. He edges closer to Charging Bear, as if he wants to duck behind the large Cherokee if his answer causes a riot. "Um, gentlemen, this body was the only one that's been delivered to me today. There wasn't any others."

Carl gathers all together and herd/leads them down to Underhill's en route to the Grand Bull, making sure Mike and Jesse escort Danielle like she was the Queen of Spain - heads up, proper-like, a led horse on either side. Tim's doing his level best not to cry, not that anyone'd see in this rain...a good kid, that.

They reach the coffin-strewn porch of the undertaker's establishment in time to hear the murmurs of consternation from the Adders within still going on from Underhill's most recent pronouncement. Carl frowns slightly, then signs anyone who wants to come in can (that is, leaving it to Danielle as to how much she wants her son to see) and steps up, the thud of his boots the only announcement of his presence. It's enough.

Carl raises an eyebrow at Underhill as he removes his hat. Deputy's bristling like a wet dog - what's going on?

Charging Bear gives the Adders their moments, knowing they're far more hot tempered than smart. He noted each's weapon and took his time to study them for any potential weaknesses... slight limp, a twitch, anything that might give him a later advantage. The native son felt like kicking himself for not surveying them before, but no time like the present.

OOC: Notice to spot anything, Fighting to figure out how to use it.
10:01, Today: Charging Bear rolled 3,1 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,1. Notice.
10:01, Today: Charging Bear rolled 4,9 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+3)9. Notice (WC).
10:02, Today: Charging Bear rolled 7,4 using 1d8,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,4. Fighting.

A Charging Bear surveys the growing crowd in the Undertaker's office, the situation grow more and more grim. There were 6 Dust Addders with him before, but with the group that just arrived out of the rain there's now 10 Dust Adders in and around the shop. Ten-on-one odds are bad for anyone. Most of the Dust Adders are armed with pistols and Bowie knives. there's a certain saving grace in that the shop is crowded with so many people...he could probably make a decent stand if he flipped a table over and wedged himself in a corner, though that would leave the undertaker unprotected.

The best plan for a fight would probably be to break a window then hold the Adders off while the noncombatants ran out it. An even better plan would be to try and prevent a fight from breaking out in the first place.

"What the fuck do you mean, there ain't any other bodies here?" Maxwell shouts. "What's been done with Luke, you lily-livered son of a bitch!?"

Outside, hearing the shouting, Danielle tries to user her son away from the office, but the boy slips out of her grasp and wiggles through the doorway, to stare wide-eyed at the confrontation.

"Look, I don't know!" Underhill whimpers from behind Charging Bear. "That lady Ranger, she was running around town this morning asking after someone who got away from the shootout last night! He's probably in her custody! Go talk to her!"

Dave nudges Jesse. "Lady ranger?" he whispers to him. "You don't think it's that deputy what tried to get you hung, is it?"

[Private to GM: Todd, Maxwell, John, Carl, Jesse, Dave, Percy, Little Tom, Mike, and Frank are the Dust Adders in and around the shop.]

Charging Bear remains quiet, not wanting to escalate things more than his presence might have already. He smirks at the mention of a lady ranger arriving in town, Knowing my luck she'll be green as Augustus, but still any help with the present situation is most welcome. Then he notice the kid, Charging Bear's eyes narrowed and he let out a loud whistle.

Once he's gotten the Adder's attention he'll say,"I think we have family here who wish to pay respects..." and point out the boy.

[Private to GM: Wasn't looking to start a fight, more like anything that would help if one did break out or later down the road...]
This message was last edited by the player at 18:57, Mon 18 Oct 2010.

From across the street, underneath an awning, a trio of figures watches the crowd around the funeral parlor with interest.

"Well, that's a twist. Looks like the actual Dust Adders are around, kicking up a fuss."

"Ooooh! Mayhem! I wonder how much blood they're'll be!"

"It will be interesting, to say the least. But this is an opportunity, I think."

"Where are you going with this, McAvity?"

"Our benefactor wanted to make it look like the Ranger met her end dealing with Dust adders, yes? And now we handily have a passel of Dust Adders here kicking up a riot. One riot, one Ranger, they say. All we have to do is see to it the Ranger gets to her riot...then make sure she doesn't leave it."

"Delicious!"

"I don't like it. I wanted to be the one to take out the Ranger, not some grubby farm hands."

"And so you will be, Rum. Just get down there, merge with the crowd, and take your shot when the opportune moment presents itself."

"I like the way you think, McAvity!"

"I'll go fetch our target!"

"You do that, Jenny. Have fun!"

With that, the three figures split up, going about their tasks.

Carl nods to CB and gestures for the gang to settle, glancing at the tensed Charging Bear to see if the injun's about to go savage on them. There's a clear question along the lines of 'where?' in the look he gives Underhill.

If the Adders do come to heel, Carl'll beckon Tim over - never mind the once-man mess on the table, he'd seen worse younger than Tim to no ill effect - and nod down at the lad in request Charlie's coffin be pointed out.

In reply to Charging Bear (msg #44):

[Private to Charging Bear: That's what I figured you were doing. I was just pointing out the options. Your success on the roll will probably be good for a +2 bonus to any Tricks or Test of Will you attempt, if you're looking for mechanical advantages.]

The Dust Adders seem to calm a little, especially once Carl takes charge of the kid.

Underhill, not being used to Carl-Speak, doesn't notice the significance of the glance he's given.

The Dust Adders move to let time through to Charlie's coffin.

With so much attention being focused inside the shop, no one notices an extra figure joining the crowd...

[[OOC: I kind of want to wait for Jesse to reply before going too much further...but Augustus' player usually posts at night or early in the morning on weekdays, so I'm playing it by ear.]]

The lack of reply was odd, but it wouldn't take long for one of the boys to ask anyway. As Carl walks with the kid, he wonders if it'd be worth sending a rider over to Luke's folks' place, see if anyone had taken him there...when you were bad hurt, felt like it could be dying, you just wanted to go on home.

Aw, Charlie... Poor Dog Charlie. Doesn't look bad. Carl looks back at Underhill whilst Tim bids his father farewell, indicates the body and mimes pulling on a hat with an inquiring look.

"?"

Jesse bristles at Dave's nudge, shoving back at the fellow Adder more roughly than necessary, "Shut yer fuckin' hole, Dave.  You don' know shit about it..."  Having lost his cool, he muscles his way back out past the other Adders to the porch.  He'll generally ignore the goings on with the family and deaths and everything.  All his thoughts are bent now on that damn law-woman.  A flood of anger at the old wound causes him to lash out at a porch post with a fist.  Bloodied, he draws it back and mutters, "Damn bitch..."

PMs

[Private to Jesse: Go ahead and make me a notice check, at -1 due to the distractions.]

Charging Bear watched Jesse, a slight frown touched his lips but disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. The native son moved through the Adders towards Carl and when he got to the 'defacto' leader Charging Bear simply nodded his head towards where Jesse had disappeared to, namely the porch.

Carl lets his hand slide from the boy's shoulder - not without a reassuring glance as Tim looks up - and goes to see what's going on outside.

Jesse's attacking the porch. Carl grimaces slightly, since he'd rather deal with a burro with a bee up its behind than a Jesse who hasn't been fed all day. It'd taken an eighteen-year-old Carl a broken arm to work out the link between Jesse being hungry and Jesse adding a barrelful of ornery to his usual powderkeg temper, (incidentally the same reason Jesse was shy of a left back tooth). Got to get him fed and them raw nerves smoothed down with liquor - trying to talk to him beforehand would be about as useful as chewing a brick, and Carl likes his teeth.

He looks back, loath to hurry Tim up, and steps away from the door a pace, gesturing to Charging Bear not to worry/interfere. He'll get this done as soon as possible...Carl gives an expectant look to the undertaker.

[Private to GM: chasing up that hat.]

"Where's this Ranger?" Little Tom asks.

"I don't know for sure. I think she was staying at the Grand Bull." Underhill says. "I think Marshal Evans was staying there, too, now that his office has been all blown up. There's been awful lot of Law Dogs staying there recently!"

Meanwhile, the boy is over at the coffin of his father, looking in and weeping quietly.

[[OOC: Going to let the scene between Carl and Jesse play out for a bit.]]

[Private to Carl: Now I'm confused. What hat is Carl trying to get, and why? Untangle the Carlspeak for me!]

Carl takes another couple of paces out.

*whi't!*

The short whistle should catch Jesse's attention. Carl stands ready to lean back if that attention comes with elbow included.

[Private to GM: Charlie's hat, if it's there...cowpokes in general seem somewhat superstitious, and with this lot it seems hat is to man as bell is to ship or sword is to samurai...Carl wants the hat to go straight to Tim before it's "dead"/unlucky.]

Charging Bear moves over to the little boy, he puts a strong hand on the lads's shoulder and holds out a handkerchief to him.

The tempermental young Adder turns back at the whistle, looking a might touchier for being whistled at like a dog.  "Fuck you want now, /Carl/?  I'm tired of this pansy shit...  Charlie gets hisself kilt and we gotta play nursemaid to his family...  Well, we got 'em here.  They seen he's really dead and gone.  Great.  Let's /go/."