This as a new and very unpopular establishment in Escondido.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:04, Fri 26 July 2013.

Edward sat at his desk as he did every morning. He sometimes wondered what the point of it all was, but he had made a promise to Robert Pinkerton and to the memory of his wife Jennifer Butler, his beloved Jenny, that he would go on living even though there seemed no purpose. He pulled from the desk drawer his Colt Single Action, and he meticulously cleaned each part so that it was in perfect working order. He took out the bullets, and he slowly loaded his weapon. It was hard for him not to think the bullets would be better spent by putting him out of his misery. When he finished cleaning the gun, he slid it cross draw holster.

With trembling hands, he would pull out some stationary that had been written on. It was Jenny's final letter to him.

Dearest Edward,

I wanted to take this moment to write you for I fear I will not be here when you return. I miss your pouty bear like smile that you give when you try to be stern with me or Ian. I miss the simple way you touch my shoulder to reassure me that our love is true.

Some, I fear would be bitter if they were I, but my love I have no regrets. I spent the last ten years in paradise on earth with the man I loved. I fear not for myself now because I know that I am destined to be with the Lord soon. I fear for you sweet Edward. You somehow will take my passing as a failure. You sometimes carry such a burden Edward. I know the Lord would carry for you if you truly opened yourself to his love.

My dear, so much love I still wish to tell you of, but the light seems to be fading from sight. My hands heavy and unable to write. I ask you two things. Bury me and Ian by the tree swing you made for him, and most important, Edward, live your life fully until we are united once again.

Your loving Wife
Jenny

As he finished the letter, he wondered as he has after every reading how he would go on. His memory returning to the day he returned. The doctor had not wished if to enter the room for fear of catching the disease, but he could not stay out. She was a small woman by nature, but the fervor had stole most of her away. He remembered taking her to his arms, and her being no more the size of a small child. He cursed his self then and this morning for not being there when she died.

Edward was not much of a rancher, and without Jenny there was little reason for him to stay. He allowed the cattle to spread and be poached by bandits. He would of killed himself, but he knew that would make Jenny upset. Finally, a letter delivered by a Pinkerton agent. The Letter was written by Alan Pinkerton. He asked that Edward pick up the sword and gird the armor of righteousness once again. The letter spoke of the thread to the Union by its inability to put down the bandit and outlaw.

Edward truly did not want to serve any, but the one thing he did better then most men was to track down and kill men.  This would give him purpose, and with luck he would join his Jenny sooner.

Placing the letter back into the locked section of his desk, he rose from his desk and started the day

Edward walked the office. It was really big enough for three agents and a photographer. Alan had his son Robert set the office up the best he could. The office had a a small armory including several rifles and shotguns in a locking rack, a photography lab with a cabinet with mug shots, and an interrogation area. As was Edward's way, he walked each area insuring nothing was wrong. Jenny had often scolded him that he needed to relax. As a concession to her; he took the chess set that her father had given him. He set it up near the barred window facing the street. He would often sit there for hours since little other then an occasion order from the railroad came in.

Sitting down at the board, he saw that the game he was playing with himself could be ended in 7 moves. He noted to himself most men act like a chess game. When studied, they make predictable moves that eventually lead to their demise. Edward knew in his work he needed to be like the queen. Seemly predictable, but in reality able to come at an enemy from any direction.

There is a soft knock at the door. Just outside stands Temperance Peters and her identical twin daughters. The mother is holding a parcel wrapped brown paper. Each of the girls is carrying small covered baskets.

“I finished mending your coat Mr Jennings. Hope this a good time to bring it back to you.”

Edward was sitting at the chess board, but as she came in he stood bowed slightly acknowledging her entrance.

"6 moves" as he moved his bishop into position

"Welcome Mrs Peters. I am sure the coat is done meeting your normal high standards. I am surprised that you came to my office in the daylight. What will the people think? In these parts the Devil is more popular then the Pinkerton man, but I do truly appreciate your work."

The idea of public condemnation took Temperance so much by surprise, she could  barely keep herself from laughing .

“Why I haven’t needed a chaperon sense I was sixteen years old.” Her voice conveying a lightheartedness she seldom lets herself express.

“I guess these two will need to stand in for now.” Indicating the little girls standing at her sides. The sister on the right was watching her mother intently as if committing  her every word and gesture to memory.  The one on the left however was looking around the room as if she had just discovered Aladdin’s Cave of Wonders.

Unwrapping the coat, she’ll hold it out for Edward to try on. “ Fixing the pocket was easy enough but I’m afraid repairing the seam in the side may have changed the way it will hang on you.”

He took off his coat placing it heavily on one of the racks. Removing his jacket revealed that he had both a knife and pistol attached to his belt. He put the the repaired coat on. He could tell slight differences, but he was not to concerned about making a fashion statement.He smiled the best he could towards the girls, but smiling was a facial expression he knew well now.


You have beautiful daughters. What are their names?

"Thank you kindly sir. I hope to raise them to be polite and manner-ful as well pretty to look at. This one is Prudence Rose. Prim is her pet name.  The other is Emily Joy. We call her Em at home. Prim and Em proper names for twins we thought."

For once the young mother’s full attention is not on her children. She looking askew at the well armed Pinkerton Man.

"If you don’t mind me asking what is it exactly you do? I mean I know what Pinkerton is but what all is this here in your office?"

He realizes that guns were not for such youths eyes. He quickly covered the his gear with his jacket.

Pinkerton were formed as a private police force, ma'am. The government often hires us because we utilize modern police techniques to ensure the enforcement of the law. I specialize in the tracking of wanted fugitives and bringing them to Justice.

Edward picked up the Knight's piece.

Miss Prudence and Miss Emily, do either of you like to play games. My son, Ian, loved finishing his chores, and as a reward I would teach him a game. He was learning this one. It is called Chess, but before he learned this one I taught him checkers. I bet I have that board and pieces somewhere. If, you girls are good for your mom I will find next time you come and your mom can teach you.

He hoped his voice did not shake speaking of his son.

"Thank you Mister Jennings." The soft respectful voice of Prim could barely be heard before her sister Emily chimed in.

"Chores. I hate chores but I love games. Checkers! We’ve seen them but don’t know how to play at all. If you teach me, well I could join in anytime. I like this game too. Prim did you see there are horses. Dark ones and light ones, four of them and they look so real you can almost hear um whinny. We had a horse once but he got stole the day our Pa was killed.  We just…."

The child’s next thought is lost as her mother tugged hard on her sleeve.

“Emily Joy not another word from you.”
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 07:58, Fri 26 July 2013.

The child is fine Miss Peters, I gave her leave to speak when I spoke to them. The error was mine. I should of asked you first.

Ian would get excited to. His mind, so quick and eager to learn all possible. He was afraid of nothing. Edward sometimes wished all of them could be more child like. He had thought on several occasions that Adam and Eve were probably more like children. Then, they ate the apple, and became like adults: guarded, ignorant and lost.

My son, Ian, like the Horses too, Miss Emily. But, they are more then a simple horse. They represent the knights of old. Men that feared little, and would ride out to insure that the weak innocent were protected. For, a while Ian wanted to be a knight.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:02, Fri 26 July 2013.

"You are too kind Mr. Jennings. This girl would talk the ears off a field of corn given a warm day and a pitcher of lemonade."

Temperance's smile for daughter fade a little once she noticed the truly haunted look in Edward‘s eyes as he spoke of his poor died son. I truly pray there is a Balm in Gilead to help this man’s soul. Losing a child must be the most difficult thing in this life. I buried a husband. It was hard but I had these two to keep be going. But If I lost one of my girls I’d wear black the rest of my days morning her. If, god forbid, I lost them both...well they can just dig my grave and lay me to rest tween them.

“I think learning about the knights of old riding around on horseback will need wait for another morning. We’ve taken up enough of Mr. Jennings time.”

Reining in her emotions, Temperance prepares to take leave. “I’m glad my work meets with your approval. That’s a mighty fancy suit jacket but those big pockets a bond to cause trouble.”

Picking up the brown paper and folding it neatly.  “If you’d rather I can wait until the end of the week for my six bits.”

Ma'am, there is no need to wait. But, you are probably right on the lesson of knights. There is much work I should be focusing on.

The problem was there was little work for him. Other then the railroad, he had little work. Few trusted him because of Pinkerton's affiliation with the Union. The railroad saw he nothing more than an attack dog protecting their interests. His time as a knight ended with the death of Abraham Lincoln. The world changed. No longer was he fighting to preserve a divine cause. Now, he was just as people believed a hired killer.

He went to his drawer, and pulled out her money. Handing it to her, he returned back to the more stoic Mr. Jennings.

Mrs. Peters, thank you for your good work, and you and your girls have a good day

"A good day to you sir."

Em and Prim give him a short curtsy. The same motion at the same time. It may seen a little strange to anyone not in frequent contact with twins.

Temperance looks out onto the street. Checking to see if any trouble is brewing. Then leads her little troupe out of the Pinkerton office.


---> The Streets of Escondido (For a little parenting)