Morning, April 11th, 1879. Ward's Ranch. Good Friday.

((Augustus Spotswood, John Smith, Gangatsu, Alouette))

The night was cold and uncomfortable. The day dawning seems to offer more the same. The sunrise is gray and muted beneath clouds that leech color from the surroundings, and there's a chill in the air. And it smells of storms again.

The group is discovered by some Dust Adders doing a morning ride, and ferried back to the Ranch House. There's no breakfast waiting...the food still needs to be replaced from last night. Ward offers the use of his home for thee group to refresh themselves and get warm, but he seems to be preoccupied with thoughts.

Please post something to give me a heads-up to what your character is doing and planning to do for the day, now that you've gotten back to civilization.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:39, Mon 27 Dec 2010.

Alouette, repaired and chirpy again, tries its best to make sure everyone is all right, even finding a "snake friend!" for Abraham, since he's the only one of Ward's household that doesn't have one. Abraham should probably be careful about where he tells the clank to drop it/put it down.

Tokens of care and mercy delivered, the automaton will attempt to set off looking for its errant man-eating albatross unless told to do otherwise.

She was resting soundly through the night, undisturbed and silent as death. A good bed was not wasted on her, there was nothing more that she wanted then to merely go to sleep and stay that way forever, yet it would not be so. Not until there was purpose completed from her life, a redeeming quality in this exsistance..

Shifting, slowly, she rosed from her slumber with a mild sigh at being here in Ward's house. Getting up and fashioning on her clothing, the woman's mind raced over the things the Shaman had said. Ward was up to something, yet this was the unclear part. He would have a serpent in his chest as well the demon invoker, perhaps. For all she knew, he could have caused the destruction of the miner's cave and moved in on it when the former owners bailed on this piss poor town. Kept him in favor with all the ignorant folk and no one would question their life blood. That would fit. Truly, it would.

 She surveyed her room, picking up her sword with a slightly satisfied smirk tinging her lips for a moment longer.

Upon returning to Dr. Wards home John nervously checks on Zhangs condition repeatedly, likely to the point of annoying whomever is taking care of the old man. Though one 'shoo' and John will find a quiet space to practice his various forms, exercise and meditate taking whatever breakfast, lunch or dinner that might be offered. Otherwise he plans on waiting until Zhang recovers.

John watches as Dr. Ward tends to his mentor. Zhang seems to be recovering, but he remains unconscious.

"He is in remarkable health, considering his injuries." Ward tells him. "I believe he will make a full recovery in time, but he will need to rest. You are welcome to say for a few days as he recovers if you wish."

Once Ward has seen to Zhang, he moves on to his servant, Abraham. The man protests that he's fine, but the doctor insists that he rest for a day or two, just in case.

Then he heads downstairs to prepare a breakfast for everyone, as best he can. The breakfast he provides is frugal, simply oatmeal and water.

John eats breakfast not realizing how hungry he is until it was put in front of him. The fact that it is a fairly bare bones meal escapes him as he eats every last bite. He's had better and worse and when food is bad he always found it was best to treat it like fuel for the fire to be shoveled in rather than something palatable.

Gangatsu ventured out from the room with a serious expression, listening the stirs in the house. she ceased in watching Ward pass by and toward the kitchen.. She does not immiedately follow, yet a dark thought had popped into her mind to kill the bastard here and now.

No. That's too damn easy and unjust in her cause. The doctor might be useful in repairing the stone though he couldn't be trusted to do so.. Her brow furrowed a little in watching the man make some oatmeal and water for everyone, at least he offered. Eyes momentarily moved over to John whom was eating like he hadn't for days and the sight made her own stomache rumble. A light sneer crossed her features at the need for nourishment, but it fled into a mere disapproving frown in entering the kitchen and taking a seat near John.

" Feel like talkin Doc.."

Dr. Ward looks up at Gangatsu. He sighs and nods.

"Very well. I am willing to start fresh and forgive your previous incivility if you wish to start discourse anew. It is quite apparent to me that we have larger problems facing us than our previous quarrel." He takes a sip of his water. "However, the last time we spoke, you said several vile and slanderous things about my character. If you do so again, be warned that I am not in a mood to tolerate such outbursts. Choose your words with care, madam."

Before Gangatsu can answer Ward, the quiet of the grounds is interrupted by an echoing gunshot.

Ward looks up at John and Gangatsu. "Pardon me." He says. "I should probably handle this..."

Then there's a door slam from the kitchen area, followed by another slam, and the sounds of a struggle. Pots clatter and utensils skitter.

"Help!" comes a shout. "Oh dear, please someone! Help me!"

OOC: Apologies. Misread the post.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:32, Fri 18 Feb 2011.

((OOC: Ward hasn't left the room yet...the shouting happened just as he was standing up.))

[[since the Stray suggested it might be useful to know...]]


Meanwhile, about a mile from the narrow gully where Nate Frost met his end...


Carl squints at the slope, letting Hoss pick her way amongst the scrub and grasses. Apparently being dead doesn't prevent a mixture of Scotch, corn liquor and whatever that green stuff was that seemed like a good idea at the time giving you aye fond Glasgow kiss farewell. Perhaps surprisingly - or perhaps not, given yesterday - Mike looks absoloutely no better than he does.

Jack's hanging back, ostensibly to "watch their backs" and get a wider view of the area - Carl's counting on his eyes and the horses' noses to be enough to warn them of the first hint of danger. If the catamount had turned walker...Carl shifts in the saddle, bringing his shotgun closer, and on second thought reserves throwing up on the thing and personally kicking it back to Hell as plan B.

He looks over at Jethro again. "?"

Slanderous, perhaps, but she was still looking for the physical proof to nail this guy. Yet he was a lesser evil she would just have to endure. there was someone bigger then him that needed to be taken down and Gangatsu rushed that ball a little too much. No more. She would be careful. Until the end draws near.

The gunshots made her head duck slightly, eyes shift to Ward as he spoke and then to the kitchen as someone barked out.

" Dat sounds like on o yer's, Doc?.." The asian woman growled, shifting from her seat to stand her ground.

John is out of his chair and crouched defensively as he looks from Gangatsu to Ward questioningly. "You recognize the voice Doctor?" he asks as he approaches the kitchen door from the side.

"That sounds like Mr. Spotswood!" Ward says, throwing open the door.

There, A large black man in dusty clothes holds the frail scientist to the ground, a massive revolver with a bladed edge pointed at the frightened man's head.

The big man looks up. "This man is a fugitive from the law." He growls at the trio. "I would be much obliged if you did not interfere."

"Help me!" the scientist wails. "Help me, please!"

There's some shouting coming from outside. Sounds like the Dust Adders are surrounding the house...

The woman watches, though have to peek around the door frame, her dimunitive stature letting her green eyes slid past the southern gentleman to Augustus Spotswood and a huge black fellow with good sized weapon. She gave a faint snort and was a bit surprised Doctor Ward wasn't saying anything in addition. Either he was taken back by it or he might not interfer, but. It was most likely that he would do so.

" Bah.. Careful d'ere, big man, ya might break 'im...." Gatsu moved into the kitchen with a scowl on her features. She'd be the last person to help anyone, but she was a little sick of hearing the Doctor wail like a scared coyote. " Why dun'cha ease da gun off 'is face, da man ain't wily and slick without his lil 'gun'.."

Augustus is, more then usual, a miserable and pitiable sight.  Whatever adventurous courage he had found momentarily out on the plains cannot be found here.  There is no vain struggling.  His eyes are shut tight so as to avoid seeing the coming of the bullet that will take his life. Hearing other voices approach, a glimmer of hope forms, "I was tricked!  I never hurt anyone!  The charges were false!!  You must believe me!  Doctor!"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:15, Sun 20 Feb 2011.

"I don't care much about breaking him, as long as he's alive enough to stand trial." The large man replies. "Of course, if he gives up quietly, there won't be a need for any harm to come to him." he looks down at Augustus. "If'n you'd wanted to prove that, maybe you shouldn't have split like a jackrabbit for the west. You'll get your day in court to prove how little harm you meant, kidnapper."

"I do." Wards says quietly at Augustus' plea, then turns to the man. "If you're an officer of the law, would you kindly produce your credentials?"

"I...I..." The man says, his face screwing up into a confused grimace. "I don't have any. I'm a bounty hunter."

"I see." Ward says calmly. "In that case, you are trespassing. Mr. Spotswood is a guest in this house. You are an interloper. Please put away your weapon and leave. Now."

The man stands, though he seems to be struggling against standing. He slowly holsters his pistol and heads for the door. "This isn't over, Sir. You are harboring a fugitive from the law. I'm sure the Ranger in town will be very interested in hearing about this. I'll be back."

Ward sighs. "Mr. Smith. Would you kindly escort this gentleman to the edge of the property and see that he does, in fact, leave it?"

Even after the bounty hunter stands up and the frightening weapon is no longer aimed at his head, Augustus remains on the ground with eyes shut oh so very tight.  He slowly cracks an eye open as the Doctor requests the hunter's removal.  A wave of relief courses through the scientist and he begins to sruggle back up to his feet.  Brushing himself off, trying to straighten his suit (which has really seen better days by this point), he mutters quietly, "I have never kidnapped anyone...  I wouldn't want to.  Oh stop it, we allready decided that was not going to work anyway..."  Clearing his throat, he looks to the Doctor and then after the bounty hunter, "I swear, Doctor, I never kidnapped anyone.  It was...oh what did that gentleman with the moustache tell me...  Oh yes..  I was framed, you see.  A legal misunderstanding."

John nods and does just that. He remains ready, the man could be respecting Doctor Wards property or he may have simply been a little nervous about facing so many people at once, either way John escorts the man in silence. He'll watch him leave while fiddling with a few of those river stones and stick around after for a time just to make sure he doesn't double back. Once he's as sure as he can be that the man has left he turns and returns to the house.

OOC: Providing nothing happens of course.

Gangatsu is quiet for a moment, her gaze goes briefly to each person before ceasing on Ward when he said that kindly phrase. In seeing the Boutny hunter react, he looked surprised with himself, stammering instead of being so blunt and rugged with his words. She felt that was a touch strange...

" Ya really got a way wit people, Ward."
Notice 8 [About Ward]
This message was last edited by the player at 00:45, Wed 23 Feb 2011.

In the Ranch house:


"I suspected as much." Ward says, nodding at Augustus's explanation. "In fact, I suspected as much from the moment we met, Mr. Spotswood, and I believe I said words to those effect when we spoke last night. I consider myself a good judge of character, and I know all too well how easy it is to put marvelous devices to perfidious and unintended uses."

"Still, this puts me in a tricky position, which I hope you can appreciate. He will be back, probably with the Marshal. I can only stall them for so long, and if the marshal has a warrant with him I cannot keep him from taking you in."

He turns to Gangatsu. "I suppose I do, in my way. You just have to know how to talk to some people. Politeness often succeeds where brash rudeness and a waspish tongue fails."

---

On the path to the front gate:

"You'll regret this, you know." the bounty hunter says as John leads him to the property's edge. "You all will. Aiding a fugitive makes you all accessories. And there's a Texas Ranger in town who will make sure you all swing with that man."

John and the Bounty hunter aren't alone, though. Several of the Dust Adders have gathered, including Gus and a roughneck that John hasn't met before.

"Stand aside, friend." Gus says to John.

"We got some business with that there nigger." the other roughneck growls, then pats his pistol meaningfully.

"A'yup." Jethro says, then spits a load of chaw out. "Right here, or near about as makes no difference. We'd a'seen some sign of the thing by now, or at least smelled it. If it was et, there should be some bones about."

Augustus finishes straightening his outfit, only to slump ever so slightly at the Doctor's words.  Casting his eyes downward a moment, he mutters to himself, "Yes yes... you were right... it was too good to be true...  No, I don't think they will, besides I'll just leave before that happens anyway..."  Straightening up again, the scientist attempts to draw up an air of straight-shouldered pride, "I understand, Doctor.  I am sorry to have brought yet more trouble to your door.  I will gather my things and be on my way as quickly as I can manage."

Carl nods and shifts his weight to bring Hoss to a halt. He gestures around, "...", checks for any suspicious ridges and dismounts, almost startling at the crash of his boots against the earth. He kicks about disconsolately at the grass a bit, wincing at the sound, and crouches briefly to look at what earth's about between the rocks and the grass, but no sign of the cat presents itself. Damn.


[[1 tracking, no noticement.]]

John cannot help but smile at the bounty hunters words "I know her and I doubt it." he said with a shrug. "Law ain't so black and white these days I'm noticin' lot's of gray out there, those that don't see it are apt to go blind." he said as he led the man out to the edge of the doctors property.

Wincing as he spied the Dust Adders, he could respect Doctor Ward, even if the man turned into an enemy, but the Dust Adders terrorized the civilians of the town on the whim of one of their own. He had no respect for that sort of mentality and they were clearly looking to cause some trouble. "Friend?" he said in confusion as he palmed a few stones. "Hmmm, well I'm afraid the Doctor has given this man safe passage from his lands, might be upset if somethin' were to happen to him so soon after leavin', I don't know the man too well but he strikes me as someone you don't upset too lightly." John said. Damn but he didn't care much for all this talking.

" Mm.. Wouldn't know bout d'at.." She murmured bluntly and headed away from the Doctors here to look out the windows toward John. She didn't know why he was escorting the man out, yet it was fitting of him to be so gracious. A lot of Master Zhang's pupils seemed to hold those traits. Her scowl softened a little in a faintly lived memory.

" People respond ta a lot o t'ings.. 'Peically from a threat.. Colors show undar pressure, Ward." She glanced at the man for a moment, before green eyes slid over to John. The posse of Adders was moving in.  She didn't care for the Bounty Hunter, but John was part of the family, the extension of Kahn. " Mm. Seems yer boys are givin John problems.." Brow narrowing at her own words, she turns toward the door, pulling it open and she started to head out after the posse to reach John.

Ward nods to Augustus. "I'm afraid that must be the case. However, may I propose something? On my land is an old mine shaft. We passed it by yesterday, in fact, when we picked up Mr. Shaw and Miss Gangatsu. It strikes me that such a place might be a good place to sequester one's self temporarily, until the attentions of the local law have moved on and I can secure you better passage out of Blackthorn."

At Gangatsu's words, Ward frowns, and follows her outside to see just what is going on.

In reply to John Smith (msg #26):

"There's them that see the law in black and white, friend, and are willing to pay good money to see it done." The big man replies. "To be frank, sir, I don't care about the gray as long as I see the green. Whether the man is innocent or not is for the courts to decide. It's my job to see that he gets before them."

As John speaks to the growing posse, the two ringleaders look at each other.

Gus frowns. "He did, did he?"

The other one spits. "I don't give a good goddamn. This nigger is trouble. Near caused a riot in town yesterday. Not that I don't love a good fight, especially when an injun gets it in the neck, but now he's here on our land stirring up the same, and we ain't gonna have it."

"That's not the tune you sang yesterday, friend." The bounty hunter say. "The way I recall it, you were the quickest to jump up and offer information."

"That was different." The man growls back. "You were after a murdin, rapin' Redskin then. That's the sort o' filth we need to clean from our fair town. But you done gone sniffin' up the wrong tree here, Cantrell. You can chase all the criminals you like in Blackthorn. But this is our land. Don't mess with us."

"Dave," Gus says, "let it go. John here says Ward done gave this nigger free pass off the land. So we give him free pass. This is a one-time-only deal, though. We see you again, we give you the whuppin' you deserve."

Dave turns and glares at Gus. "Who made you the leader o' this outfit, Gus? I say we done give the nigger here a whuppin' right now, to remind him of his place."

"You really are dumber than a sack of hammers, aren't you?" Cantrell cracks his knuckles. "I've ridden with the Texas Rangers. I chased down John Wesley Hardin himself. And I can take you, you pissant sonofabitch."

Looks like there's a fight a brewin'...John had better think of something quick...

Augustus, doing his very best not to look like a scolded dog, nods at the idea.  Though, as the others prove distracted, he loses track of a response.  Instead, he follows after the others to see what's going on now.  A fine excuse to not have to leave for little while longer...

John looks at Cantrell as a part of him had wished the man might be motivated by something more righteous than a desire for money. He might have even said more without the interruption. "Dave," he said moving to the man who seemed the most unstable of the bunch, he speaks softly and conspiratorially not wanting Cantrell to hear "I don't think Dr. Ward is in a good mood. We were attacked by Injuns on his land, his friend and servant Abraham was almost killed, then this feller walks into his house and tried to snatch up his guest. He was generous in letting the man leave with his life do you think he'll be generous with any further disturbances?" he said hoping to calm the man down. "That and the hunter is trying to get a rise out of you, you're letting him, probably wants you to get in trouble, bad news when you don't act with a clear head."

Dave spits in John's face. "Do you think I give a good goddamn? The nigger wants a fight, and he's gonna bring down all Hell on us if'n we don't..."

Gus walks over and punches Dave in the mouth. The roughneck collapses like a sack of potatoes. "You shut up now, Dave," he growls. There's a sound filling the air, like the rattle of an angry snake. "You've been gettin' too big fer your britches ever since Nate died, and you seem to have forgotten who the boss is 'round these parts. How many fights did you start yesterday? Two? Three? You got Jesse killed, you got all of town near to riot, you done scared some poor woman and killed a deputy from what I hear. You're out of control, Dave. Forget what Ward'll do to you...if you don't cut this horseshit out I'm the one gonna put you down like a mad dog."

He turns to John. "Sorry 'bout all this drama, John. Me an' Dave here are gonna have a few more words about the chain o' command. Take this fellow out o' here before something unfortunate happens."

Her brow narrowed as Dave spat on John, her step taking a quicken few steps before the ceased and dave was knocked off his feet. Her brow perked at the turn of events, it got the big man all kinds of ruffled. Her stance eased with some apprehension, expecting the hoarde to turn on him, but they swayed and stared blankly like mindless sheep. A mild smirk pulled her lips with disbelief, he was kinda decent with all things in the hell of this world considered. She turned slightly, glancing back to john for a moment, Gus seemed to have that all in control. She headed back up to the house with a slight smile on her lips, for a moment she didn't have to fight and it brought back a little peace to her mind.

hell knows that won't last long.

" I might have a few question for ya when it's convient fer ya, Doctor Ward."

Seeing as the situation seemed to be, suddenly and violently, but to rights, Augustus felt a little out of place.  Again.  Straightening his collar, he quietly turned away and headed off to gather up his things as he said he would.  A retching cough might give him away though; still has not gotten over that cold...

John tensed but after a moment relaxed some and wiped the spit from his face. An insult was just that, an insult, nothing more. It wasn't violence on his person or those of the people he chose to protect and therefor was of little consequence. Gus seemed to have reigned in his man and he nods silently to the man as he offers up his apology. He turned back to the bounty hunter and with a motion of his head indicated he should follow. He would then lead the man further down the road and away from the Dust Adders until he figured he was clear enough to lose them should any of 'em double back and go after him. He'd remain silent the whole way ignoring conversation as he kept himself ready for trouble. "You're on your own from here on out." would be all he said before turning around and heading back to Dr. Wards home and his recovering master.