Albert found himself greeted by the scent of coffee and cooking food. Blinking at the nearby window, he realized that that sun was already up, dawn having arrived at least an hour prior, based on the look of the horizon.

Downstairs, Albert found his uncle shifting bacon and biscuits from a skillet onto a plate. ”Your aunt’s outside, seein’ to the chickens,’ he says, ”We decided to let you sleep a bit. Figured you had something to do with all the good news that’s goin’ around town this mornin’”

He passes the plate and a steaming cup of coffee to Albert. ”Didn’t get yourself hurt, did you?”

Albert sniffed a few times as he slowly woke to the welcome scent of his aunt's coffee. He would need it today more than most.

Albert took a deep breath and then rose and dressed himself in black wool trousers and a dark gray shirt before making his way down to find his uncle in the kitchen. He smiled at his uncle's willingness to give Albert a chance to sleep in a little. "News travels fast, it seems. Good ta hear my name ain't part of it. But I mighta had somethin' ta do with it."

He shook his head at the question. "Naw, I ain't hurt. And I don't think nobody that weren't parta the posse that headed out there knows I was parta it. I asked everyone ta keep hushed up 'bout my presence. Course that don't mean nobody'll eventually find out, so please keep yer eyes open. Last thing I wanted were ta cause trouble fer folks what brought me in. But them kids...ya know what happened ta my son."

”Kinda why I thought you had a hand in what happened,” Henry says, taking a sip from his own cup, ”This valley hasn’t had a hell of a lot of good news to share lately. You, and whoever was with you, did a real good thing. I reckon those young uns are real happy to be back with their folks.”

He looks across the table at Albert. ”Just...just be careful. You’re a grown man. You can take care of yourself. Better than I can, truth be told. But, you’re important to your aunt and I. So just...take care. Alright?”

He shifts in his seat, momentarily uncomfortable with his own display of emotion. ”I imagine you’ve got some concerns in town you’d like to see to. So, if you’d just look after the horses this morning, I can take care of the rest. I could use a ride out to the east side of the property anyway. Shake some of this damn stiffness out of me.”

From outside of the house, the pair hear a voice call, reedy and unfamiliar. ”Hello the house!”

Henry raises an eyebrow. ”You expecting any company?”

Albert nodded. "Yessir, I'll be careful. Some things, though, they need doin'. And it can't always be safe." Henry knew that for sure, but Albert voiced his thoughts all the same. "And thanks, Uncle Henry. I appreciate you carin' about me like that."

He nodded at the instruction. "I'll take care o'them horses, sure thing. And yeah, I gotta few things..."

The knock cause Albert to straighten a bit, and he headed over to where his uncle kept a rifle hidden in the house, just in case. He shook his head to the question and tipped his head slightly to let Henry know Albert was armed. Not that someone with ill-intent would likely introduce themselves in such a way, but in these parts...you didn't take chances.

Henry steps out onto the porch. As Albert follows, he notices his uncle’s complexion go slightly pale.

A broad shouldered rider astride a blue roan is waiting a few paces from the covered porch. His sand colored hair meets his collar and his face is covered in stubble. He is dressed for the range, lines of dust visible on his denim shirt and jeans. A Colt Lighting is holstered low on his left leg and Albert can spy the butt of a rifle peeking out of a scabbard secured on his saddle. The man grins as he sees Henry emerge.

”Henry, how are ya?”

”I’m fair, Jim. You?””

”Keeping busy. Especially lately. This your nephew?”

Henry nods.

”Jim McDaniels,” the man says, addressing Albert, ”Glad to have you in Lincoln.”

Albert left the rifle in easy reach but didn’t keep it in hand. Seemed his uncle knew the fellow, though by the looks of it that only meant so much.

He nodded back at Jim. “Nice to meecha, Jim. I’m Albert Cooper, and it’s good to be in Lincoln. Nice town ya got here.”
This message was last edited by the player at 17:24, Mon 16 July 2018.

”Well, thank you kindly, Albert,” McDaniels replies. ”We’re right proud of it.”

“Say, Henry, I know news travels fast around these parts, so I reckon you’ve already heard that those young ones that were missing all turned up last night. Someone found ‘em all and brought ‘em back home.”

He gives a half smile. ”You or Albert didn’t happen to hear who was behind that good deed, did you?”

Henry slowly shakes his head. ”Sorry, Jim. I just heard they’d made their way back home. Nothin’ else.”

Albert nodded. "That's all my uncle told me, Jim. Just heard the good news at breakfast."

He paused, then smiled. "Good ta hear them kids're safe, though, eh?"

McDaniels nods. ”No argument there. But...um...if either of you happen to hear anything about who that helpful soul was, I’d be obliged if you’d let me know what you found out. You can find me over at Wilson’s most evenings.”

He starts to wheel his horse around, but pauses. ”You know that Mike Kibbee Junior, he’s a pistol. Kid’s got a lot of gumption.” He shakes he head. ”Damn shame what happened to his Daddy.”

He tips his hat. ”You boys have a good morning.” He rides off to the east at a gallop.

Albert nodded a return greeting as the man bid the Coopers a good morning. "Wilson's, got it. You have a good mornin' too."

Once the fellow was gone, Albert retreated to the kitchen and their biscuits and bacon. "He hangs out at Wilson's, eh?" The ranch hand frowned. "Don't suppose news about Mike Kibbee has traveled fast in this direction, has it?" Albert had an ill feeling in the pit of his stomach at the implication. Of course riding straight to town would tip off his concern. Best to just take things nice and easy, care for the horses, then make his way into town at a normal pace.

Henry slowly pours some fresh coffee into his cup. He shakes his head. "The only news I've heard about the Kibbees in the last little bit has been good news. That they got their boy back. Nothin' else."

"That Jim McDaniels is trouble, Albert. He's one of Jesse Evans' crew. There's a lot of problems in this valley that find their starting place with that sorry lot."

Albert nodded at his uncle's commentary while sitting down to breakfast. He crunched through a piece of bacon while thinking. "Yeah, that fella did seem like trouble. Jesse Evans' gang were the ones that were holdin' them kids hostage. Seems like they do the dirty work fer the House. Be nice ta get ridda them fellas once an' fer all."

Albert looked down at his food and snatched a biscuit. "Course I ain't gotta death wish, so that's not somethin' I'm gonna attempt no time soon."

He looked back out in the direction McDaniels went. "That thing with Kibbee semes like a fishin' expedition on his part. Though I 'spect we'll find out soon enough if it is or ain't."

Henry nods solemnly. ”I reckon you’re right. Though I can’t claim I’m not worried. Evans and his crew...they haven’t made many empty threats of late. Truth is, they don’t have to.”

He chews a strip of bacon thoughtfully, then takes a gulp of his coffee. Albert’s aunt steps into the kitchen through the back door, a basket of apricots from the nearby orchard in one hand, a pail of water in the other.

Henry frowns. ”You don’t mind me asking...what became of those of fellas from Evans’ gang that were holding those kids?” He looks at Albert, his expression concerned.

Albert repectfully looked directly at Henry as his uncle spoke, and the younger Cooper frowned a moment at the question. "Only one fella was there guardin' him. Segovia. After a bit of contemplatin', the Ranger and I took him ta the Tunstall Ranch. Susan McSween was there and promised ta keep that fella under lock and key 'til the Ranger can properly take him ta Justice."

Albert tipped his head to the side a little. "A bit dangerous fer sure, but the Ranger had ta make his call." He paused. "Lincoln is awful dangerous at the moment. Hope everyone here is bein' observant."

“I think most are. Those that aren’t lookin’ for trouble,” Henry says, shaking his head as he picks up a biscuit, starts to take a bite of it, then sets it back down on his plate. ”You know, Albert, if it was up to me, right now, this very moment, I’d just pack up and leave. Punch as many cows as we could manage either north to Colorado or east into Texas. See if I could find a small piece of land somewhere.”

“Either that or just sell the whole herd to John Chisum for whatever he’d give me. Find somewhere where your aunt and I could raise a crop or two and get by.”

He looks at Albert. ”I never would’ve thought I’d say such a thing. When we first came to this valley, we fell in love with it. Prettiest land I ever did see. And the best sort of people. I truly believed this is where I’d be the day the Good Lord called me home.”

“Not anymore. You go into town, you don’t talk to your neighbors about their lives, their families. All anyone’s concerned about is who’s tryin’ to shoot who today. And how to keep from gettin’ in the middle of it.”

“That’s no way to live. No way to grow old.”

Albert listened closely to what his uncle had to say and nodded along with it. He thought a little bit before he responded. "No, ain't too many'll be growin' old if things start ta get really bad 'round here. Mebbe it's time fer this place ta get cleaned up a bit, though. Get ridda summa the bad folk so y'all can return ta livin' a peaceful life."

Al's brow furrowed as the ranch hand paused. "Though you say it ain't up ta you...why not?"

Henry’s eyes move meaningfully over to Alice, Albert’s aunt, who is emptying her basket of apricots on the table behind them. After a moment, she ventures back outside. When she departs, Henry shakes his head. ”She won’t hear of it. Says we worked hard to build our home here. Done ten years of living in this place. Lots of memories. She feels it would be wrong to let ourselves be frightened away from it all.”

Albert nodded. "And she's prolly right. Women usually are. S'pose we just gotta be extra smart and extra careful just about now. Folk are well aware ta keep my name outta any commentary concernin' what happened last night. Assumin' they respect that it gives me some time ta figure out how ta do some prunin'. And weedin'."

He gestured generally toward town. "This kidnappin' thing's got folk riled up, includin' the newcomers I rode in with. Might be just the push folk need ta stand up. Oh, reminds me, one of the fellas I came in with is the new Methodist preacher. Offered ta give 'im a hand if needs. Said you'd be happy he's in town."

Henry nods and smiles. ”I got nothing against Father Narvaez. He’s a good man who loves the Lord, best I can tell. But I was raised Methodist, as were a number of folk around here. Pastor Benton, the last preacher at our church, he done up and vanished. No one knows where he got off to. But him being gone...it’s just been hard not being able to attend service on Sunday, hear a little truth to help you through some of the tough times.”

“So, he was right. I’m glad to hear we’ve got a new preacher in town. Him being here could go a long way to encouraging people. Helpin’ them not lose heart.”

Albert nodded at his uncle's response, glad to hear about his attitude. "Obviously I was raised that way, too. New preacher seems ta be made of purty stern stuff. He went ta help find them kids, too. Though speakin' of Pastor Benton, did anyone ever make any headway on findin' him?"

Henry sighs. ”No. And I tried to help some with that. A few of us started at the parsonage one morning, rode out in different directions, looking for any trace of Reverend Benton. Couldn’t find a thing. It was damned perplexing, Albert. The man had supper sitting out on the table. And he was just...gone. It’s still got several folks shook up.”

“We told the law, too. Before you roll your eyes at that one, I have to tell you, there was one of Sheriff Brady’s deputies, Lena Bauer, who took the Reverend’s disappearance real serious. She’s spent a lot of time tryin’ to locate him. Still is. Jeffrey and Dena Slaight have been seeing to the church while it’s been empty. Deputy Bauer talks to them and to Mike Kibbee at least weekly about anything she’s learned. Seems like she’s really doing all that she can.”

Albert nodded along with what his uncle was saying. "Interestin'. You talk to Deputy Bauer 'bout this recently? Since I'm stickin' my nose in other stuff, might as well do so here as well. Might'nt be a bad idea ta try'n figger out what happened ta Pastor Benton."

He looked out toward the horses. "After chores, of course."

”Can’t say as I have,” Henry admits. ”But I do see Jeffrey and Dena most every time I’m in town. Last week, they told me that Deputy Bauer didn’t have any news for ‘em.”

“Course, I would say Bauer’s pretty approachable, as the law around here goes. I imagine she’d talk to you about Pastor Benton.”

Henry finishes the last of his coffee, then stands with a grimace. ”Well, that fixin’ over on the east side ain’t gonna happen on its own. Sooner I get that ride out of the way, sooner I can get back here, enjoy a smoke on the front porch.”

Albert nodded. "Sounds like I'll be chattin' with her later."

He looked in the direction of his uncle's work, his own work, and his empty plate. "Yup, time ta start the day." He took care of cleaning up his plate and utensils, gave his Aunt a warm greeting, then headed out to do the work his uncle had assigned.

For the most part, the horses prove to be of a mellow temperament, pleased to be fed and watered, cooperative as Cooper changes the hay in their stalls. One of the stallions, a paint, along with Alice’s dun mare, are eager for a gallop in the corral, but their excess energy is quickly, and uneventfully, burned off.

When Cooper has finished tending to the mounts, it is mid morning, the cool air from the mountains still keeping a pleasant hold on the valley, the sun peeking out from behind a screen of feathery clouds

After taking care of his chores, Albert got himself washed and put on clean clothes. He chatted briefly with his Aunt Alice about nothing particularly important, though filled her in on the rescued children, his part in it, and what his plans were.

He then saddled Brandy and headed toward the east side where Albert could find his uncle. He simply wanted to wish the man well before Albert headed into town.

Albert locates Henry wrestling a fresh fence post into the ground at the eastern end of the ranch. He straightens up slowly as he sees his nephew approach, removing his hat to wipe his brow with a bandanna. ”You know the bad part of gettin’ old?” he asks, ”Everything takes twice as long. And it hurts, too.”

He smiles and shakes his head. ”But I just need to be thankful that I’m here to get it done. You off to town?”

Albert smiled at his uncle's commentary on aging. "I'll say what I always say. From my perspective, gettin' old beats the alternative."

Albert looked in the direction of town, then back at his uncle. He nodded at the elder Cooper. "Yup, headin' ta town now. Horses're fed and watered, hay changed, and they gotta chance ta burn off what excess energy they had."

The younger Cooper touched the brim of his hat. "Take care of yerself and Aunt Alice. I plan ta be back later, but I may be indisposed. If that happens, I'll try ta send word." He left unsaid that there was no guarantee of that. But his uncle wasn't an idiot.

Albert slowly turned his horse toward turn and urged some speed into her. Not too much - no need to tire her out. But he didn't want to plod toward Lincoln, either.

OOC: While Albert would want to head toward the deputy, given recent conversation, he will head to the main streets to see if anything catches his eye.

Cooper reaches Lincoln just as the first shops on the Main Street are beginning to open their doors, shopkeepers opening their doors and sweeping their porches. The scent of fresh made coffee and tobacco smoke wafts from the door of the nearby Ramsey Restaurant.  Walking past the eatery, on his way to the Courthouse, is a tall, barrel chested man that Cooper recognizes as Sheriff William Brady. The lawman nods in greeting as he passes.

Lantern light burns in the windows of the nearby Thornton-Curry Saloon, as well as inside the neighboring Wortley Hotel. Across the street, in front of the saddlery, Cooper spies a woman with blonde hair, dressed for the range, speaking with a dark haired bearded man that Cooper immediately recognizes as Javier Sanchez, the saddle shop owner. The woman, Cooper notices, has a deputy’s star pinned to her shirt.

Glancing further down, Cooper notices that there are already four individuals loitering on the porch of Wilson’s Saloon. He also catches sight of Dr. Earl Wood, the town physician, heading east down the Main Street at a brisk pace.

Albert scanned the town as he rode in, and he slowed Brandy to a slow walk as they moved through the streets. The ranch hand nodded politely to those he saw in passing, though eventually made for the saddle shop.

Albert hitched Brandy to a conveniently located post, then lowered his bulk to the ground with a louder sound than he made in his younger days.

He leaned against a nearby fence as the Deputy and Javier finished their conversation, and he again scanned about for anything out of the ordinary while waiting.

Sanchez and the deputy’s conversation lasts only for a moment more. Cooper notes nothing odd in the meantime, save for some raucous laughter from the group gathered in front of Wilson’s Saloon.

”Mornin’ Señor Cooper,” Sanchez says, as the deputy begins to pull on a pair of leather gloves, ”You looking for a new saddle today? Have something that needs fixin’ up?”

Albert nodded at the saddle-maker. "Mornin’, Señor Sanchez. Not lookin' fer a new saddle, no. Actually want a word with the Deputy if y'all are finished with yer conversation." The ranch hand gave the deputy a slight smile of acknowledgement as he mentioned she was the reason for his presence.

”Oh, si. Certainly,” the saddle maker replies. ”I need to get myself to work. I’m not careful, I’ll talk half the day away.” He gives Cooper and the deputy a friendly grin before retreating into his shop.

Bauer tilts the brim of her hat back, regarding Cooper with a curiously raised eyebrow. ”Usually, when someone comes looking for one of us this early in the morning, it means we’re in for busy day. What can I help you with, Mr. Cooper?”

Albert nodded appreciatively at the saddle maker as he made himself scarce.

The ranch hand tipped his head to acknowledge the Deputy's assumption about the day. "Well, ma'am, mostly I was curious 'bout what happened ta the last Methodist preacher. Was talkin' ta my uncle an' he said the fella jus' disappeared. But he also said you've spent some time tryin' ta figger that mystery. An' I was hopin' ta hear 'bout it from ya if ya've both time and inclination."

”Reverend Benton,” she says, ”Of course. I’d be glad to talk it over with you. You never know. Maybe in listenin’ to the story, you’ll catch somethin’ I’ve missed.”

She nods towards Ramsey’s Restaurant next door. ”You mind if I get a cup of coffee while we discuss it?”

Albert shook his head. "No ma'am, no problem if ya have some coffee. In fact I'd be glad if 'twere on my dime." He looked around at the options. "Ramsey makes a good cup."

Al moved ahead of the deputy so he could hold the door open.

Bauer thanks Cooper with a nod of her head. Inside, the scent of cooking food fills the air. A few of the tables are occupied, one of them by Patrick Garrett, who nods to Cooper in greeting upon recognizing him.

The deputy selects a table a few steps from the door, removing her hat as she settles into her seat. Claire Ramsey brings Bauer a cup of coffee and inquires if Cooper wants anything before leaving the pair to their conversation.

Bauer takes a sip from her cup, then looks at Cooper curiously. ”I’m guessing you’re a relation of Henry Cooper. Have to say, he’s one of the few honest men to be found around these parts right now.”

“Now, before I start boring you with a long story, I need to ask something. What’s your interest in the Reverend? Don’t get me wrong. Any help I could get in findin’ him, I’d welcome. It’s just, we’ve had a recent spate of folks wantin’ to take the law into their own hands without really thinkin’ things through. I’m not tryin’ to encourage anything foolish.”

Al removed his hat upon entering the building, and nodded back to Patrick as a return greeting. Albert selected the seat opposite Bauer, then settled his bulk onto the chair. He waved away Claire's inquiry, having eaten and coffeed himself back at the ranch.

The younger Cooper nodded at the deputy's assumption of his relation. "Yes, ma'am, I'm Henry's nephew. Like ta think he and I are mostly cut from the same cloth, though I've a ways ta go ta be worthy of such comparison."

Albert tipped his head slightly to the side at the question. "Well, ma'am, mostly I'm tryin' ta unnerstan' everthin' that's goin' on round here. What with them kids gone missin', an' another Methodist minister in town, it got me ta askin' Uncle Henry 'bout what happened ta the last one. Henry described somethin' of a mystery and pointed me in yer direction. If there's anythin' reasonable I can do ta help find the minister, I'd be keen on doin' so." There were obviously some things too dangerous for one man to tackle.

Bauer considers Cooper’s words. Taking another sip of her coffee, she says, ”I have to be honest, Mr. Cooper, there’s a lot of things wrong in Lincoln right now that I can’t change. But I kinda figured I might be able to get to the bottom of what became of Reverend Benton. He’s a good man and important to a lot of folks around these parts. The Sheriff’s been kind enough to give me a free hand to look into things as I see fit.”

“At first, I thought maybe the man had just up and run off. There wasn’t any sign of anything out of the ordinary at his home, aside from the fact that he’d left supper on the table. But when I looked real close around the house, I started to suspect that maybe somethin’ else had happened. See...”

Outside, somewhere nearby, a trio of gunshots ring out, followed by a full throated yell.

Albert nodded at what the deputy had to say, and leaned in when she started to discuss the specifics of what she'd discovered.

However, as soon as the shots rang out, Albert stood up. His chair toppled to the floor and he looked to the Deputy to see what she was going to do. He lifted his gun out of his holster, though kept it pointed at the floor. "I gotcher back, ma'am. That sounds like duty callin'."