The morning air was crisp as the sun began to slowly rise over the mountains and bathe the land in the golden glow. Precious had fallen asleep on the settee’ in the receiving room of the Gem sometime in the wee hours of the morning. She awoke with a jolt as a particularly bad dream roused her from her sleep and she looked around a little disoriented. Realizing where she was and why, she quickly got to her feet and walked to the door. Peering out she saw Harry was still sitting there, shot gun laid across his lap, keeping a silent vigil on things.

Cursing under her breath, she quickly got to the kitchen and started brewing a fresh pot of coffee. As Emily came into the kitchen reporting for duty, Precious gave her a breakfast menu making sure Emily understood how important it was for the cook to get it going.

With Emily’s assurance things would be taken care of, Precious slipped up the stairs, roused Ruby and Pearl from their slumbers then went to freshen herself up. When she walked back down the steps she was dressed in a light blue cotton blouse and a dark blue skirt. Like before, she wore very little petty coats so the material of the skirt draped about her loosely. Her hair was left down today and her curls had been brushed until they shone like honey topped wheat.

She could smell breakfast and felt her own stomach growl. Walking to the door, she unlocked it and stepped out onto the porch in the cool air, crossing her arms in front of her to ward off the chill. Her eyes seemed to sparkle with new life as she looked to Harry and smiled softly.

”Git on in here, Mr. Longbaugh. It’s been a long, cold night and you best be warming your bones and filling your belly before you head upstairs to rest. And I won’t hear of you doing anything else this morning. Breakfast is ready. I’ll have a bottle of whiskey set on the table for you to add to your coffee so you can rest peacefully too. Now…come on in.”

Precious stood to the side and held her hand out to Harry in a gesture to help him up. Looking down the street she saw things were quiet and dark at the Snake Bite. All the better, she thought. At least trouble from them wouldn’t be coming too soon today.

Jessica woke to the sun shining in her hotel window and warming her nicely. She sat up, smiling. It was a new day and this was the day her new life would start. She jumped out of bed and after quickly refreshing herself, dressing in a simple purple gingham dress and button shoes, she brushed her long hair until it shined and pulled the sides back with a matching ribbon. Grabbing her drawstring purse with a few coin in it, she went downstairs to have a quick bite to eat before heading out into the town.

She smiled as she watched the people bustling about in front of the hotel. Looking around, she began her walk to the town hall in the hopes of catching the mayor, Mayor Phil Olsen. She needed to talk to him about getting the school underway as soon as possible. She headed north on Maple St. until she came to Birch St. then turned west to Main Street. There she turned north again until she came to the town hall. Once there, she entered the building and approached the desk where a prim lady was sitting.

"Excuse me, ma'am. I am Jessica Douglass, the new school teacher and I am here to see Mayor Olsen. Is he in and if not here, then would you be so kind as to tell me where I can find him?"

The elderly woman looked down her nose at Jessica, who although she found it quite rude, she continued to smile at the older woman.

The old woman gave an irritated huff.

"For a school teacher, you ain't very smart, are ya? Yer standin' in the Town Hall of Medicine Bow. Where exactly did ya expect the Mayor t'be? He's been expectin' ya for three days now. Go on in."

As Jessica stood there, the old woman raised her brows.

"You spoke perfect english when ya opened yer mouth earlier. Don't cha understand it when ya hear it? I said ta go on in."

Jessica kept the smile on her face, but it was difficult to say the least at the elderly woman's words. Did the woman not realize that her stage had been delayed or she would have been here a few days ago? It didn't much matter now, she thought to herself. She was here now and she was anxious to get started.

She mumbled a 'thank you' and headed on in.

Harry smiled and took Precious' hand as he rose. "Well now some of your good coffee and Emily's breakfast would be good, I reckon. Seems my stomach was beginin' ta think my throat was cut." Harry said as he slipped his arm momentarily around Precious' slinder waist. Then quickly withdrew it to take her arm. "Pardon me Miss Mathews, I did not mean to be bold." he said softly.

Precious was a bit surprised by the fact Harry had placed his arm around her waist and when he quickly withdrew it, she smiled and slipped her arm beneath his and led him towards the kitchen.

”What did I say about the ‘Miss Mathews’ stuff? And there’s no such thing as bold with me Mr. Longbaugh. If that were the case, I’d not be in the profession I find myself in right now. Don’t you worry about anything. If you were to ever get ‘too bold’ with me, I’d let ya know. But as of right now, you haven’t even begun to approach that line. Now….let’s get that coat off so you can get warmed up in here and get that belly full before you catch some shut eye.”

Reaching up behind Harry, Precious helped him out of his coat and hung it on a peg near the fireplace in the foyer that had been stoked and now had a nice fire burning in it again to chase away the morning chill. The smell of breakfast began to fill the air as they got closer to the kitchen. By the time they walked through the door, the kitchen was filled with the scent of bacon, sausage, eggs and fresh brewed coffee, the sights of Emily moving about like a magician as she prepared the breakfast and the warmth of a nice fire in the hearth as well as a hot cooking fire in the stove.

Off to the rear, near the hearth, was a large table capable of holding six people. Precious guided Harry to the table and let him sit down before she picked up a thick hand towel then went to get a cup and the pot of coffee off the stove. As she walked back to the table, she picked up a bottle of whiskey and set it down next to his coffee cup as she poured the coffee into it. Setting the coffee pot down on the table, she sat next to Harry and poured herself a cup as well.

”I didn’t hear anything after I went back inside. I take it things settled down and grew quiet once more.”

Harry reached over and poured a double shot of whiskey in his cup then filled it with coffee. After taking a drink of the whiskey laced coffee he said " "Yes ma'am, that it did not much stirred all night septin' fer two riders that rode in right aftar ya went inside. They rode up ta The Snake Pit and mosied inside. Both were well healed, but ain't seen hide nur hair of em' all night. One had a small bell on his spur." Just then Emily set a plate of eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy down in front of Harry and said "Good moring ta yuz Mr. Longbaugh. Now yuz eat right up and if you be wantin' mo yuz jus' tells Ol' Emilly. Don' yuz be goin' all shy on me now."

Precious listened to what Harry said about the two riders. Furrowing her brows, she set the coffee cup down and cradled it between her two hands.

”Well….if they went into the Snake Bite, no doubt they have ties with Haddrick. A couple more vipers to add to the pit that’s already festering in that place. Just what he needs.”

As Emily set the breakfast before Harry, Precious smiled and thanked the black girl for her culinary ability. As Harry began to dig into his breakfast, Ruby and Pearl wondered in and plopped down at the table. Each of them got a coffee cup from Emily then poured themselves a cup of coffee. Emily took the pot back and started a fresh brew.

Ruby looked over at Harry and mockingly toasted him with her coffee then took a couple of sips before she spoke to anyone.

“Well now, that was an interesting night. And not in a good way either. I’d just as soon not have any more of those for a while. A gal needs her beauty sleep and at this point, I’m gonna look ages old before my time.”

Pearl finally spoke up after she had a few sips of coffee as well.

“Whadda ya mean ‘gonna’? Hell….none of us will be able to keep our youthful appeal at this rate. I wish that stupid sheriff would get run outta town along with his weasel deputy. We need a real law man in here…not some badge wearing puppet.”

Pearl gave Harry a good long look and opened her mouth to say something but Precious stopped her before she could say one word.

”Don’t, Pearl. That would be rude. Not to mention down right absurd.”

Pearl wasn’t one to be quieted so easily.

“That’s for Harry to decide. Not you.”

Precious furrowed her brows deeper as her disagreement with Pearl grew.

”Mr. Longbaugh…..is visiting. If he wanted to become a local lawman, he’d have found more permanent housing. Now drop…the….subject.”

“Why?….Just bec…”

Before Pearl could get the words out, Ruby butted in.

“Because this is no discussion for the breakfast table. The man is trying to enjoy his breakfast. Business is not discussed at the table and you know it. We’ll discuss this at a later time AFTER….Mr. Lonbaugh has eaten, had a hot bath and rested a good, long spell. No hush up or leave.”

Pearl glared at both of her sisters but did as Ruby said. Sipping her coffee, she continued to glare at them over the rim. Finally Precious smiled warmly and looked to Harry again.

”I’ve got a pot of water heating up for you if you’d like a bath after ya eat.”

Harry rubbed his stubbled cheek and said "Ya know a hot bath and a shave might not be a bad idea, now. I'm a thankin' ya fur suggestin' it. Just as soon as I finish up this here fine breakfast, I'll be doin' that." Harry went back to eating, ignoring the subject of the local sheriff. At least for now, anyway. As Harry ate,his mind was filled with thoughts of Evan Haarick, Sheriff Russell and the two strangers that had arrived late last night. ...... Then there was something about Mr. Mason that didn't quite square and Tom Sheanne. Perhaps a reply of the telegram he had sent yesterday, or another look at the wanted posters in his sadle bags, would shed some light on the questions that filled his mind. But for now he was going to enjoy this fine breakfast and that hot bath.

Precious nodded then finished her coffee. Standing, she looked to Ruby and Pearl.

“Make sure the girls understand they aren’t to leave the Gem unescorted. I don’t care if it’s one of us that escort them, but they aren’t to leave other wise. Pearl, can you please check on Tom and Josie? Make sure she’s doin’ alright after that roughin’ up she took. And make sure that young man with her doesn’t get some crazy notion to start any trouble. We’ve got enough of that on our hands already. We don’t need anymore. And check on Miss. Brooks and her new Pressman. See if they’re ready for some breakfast to be sent up to them before they leave. And make sure you tell them they don’t have to leave if they don’t want to. All things considered.”

Pearl nodded.

“Will do. Of course you might as well talk to a wall when it comes to Tom. You know he’s plum crazy about that girl.”

Her gaze swung to Ruby then and Ruby held her hands up as Precious was getting ready to say something.

“I’m already on it. I’ll get the Burgess’ to give up Moses for as long as we need him right now. I’ll check to see if that man who works in the livery can be spared today as well. And I’ll be sure to make it worth their boss’s time.”

Precious smiled then nodded and swung her gaze to Harry.

”Well, Mr. Longbaugh, you enjoy the rest of your breakfast and I’ll make sure your bath is ready for ya. If you’ll excuse me.”

Precious slipped out of the kitchen. Ruby was getting ready to leave when she noticed Pearl was taking her sweet time finishing off her coffee. Finally Ruby gave Pearl a look when she cleared her throat. Pearl rolled her eyes and finished her coffee.

“Fine. I’m goin’ already.”

Ruby smiled politely at Harry.

“Enjoy your bath and pleasant dreams, Mr. Longbaugh. Don’t worry. Things are usually pretty quiet around here during the day so your rest should be uninterrupted.”

The women exited leaving Harry alone in the kitchen with Emily and the black woman smiled broadly at Harry when he looked her way.

“Mighty fine ta have a good man around here, Mr. Longbaugh. Been a long while since I sees Ms. Precious smilin’ like that. Most times she be lookin’ over her shoulder lookin’ fer dem Dalton boys ta come ridin’ through town like a tornada. They be some bad men. And what they did t’Ms. Precious. They took her….”

Just then Ruby stepped into the kitchen with her coffee cup and gave Emily a look that made the negro woman clamp her mouth shut and excuse herself to busy about the kitchen again. As Emily started working again, Ruby smiled nervously at Harry.

“Don’t pay Emily no mind, Mr. Longbaugh. Sometimes she rambles on about nonsense. Anyway….do have a good day.”

Ruby shot Emily one more look before she left the kitchen again.

--------
Peal walked up the steps and made it to the door of Dusty’s room and put her ear to the door listening. When she didn’t hear anything, she knocked gently then called out to the man and woman on the other side of the door.

“Miss. Brooks? Would you and your man care for some breakfast to be sent to your room?”

W H 'Wild Bill' McCabe II drifted from town to town. He spent most of his time huntin for rabbit and rattlesnake on the trail and drinking in the saloons to forget the pain that filled his soul after losing his woman. Wild Bill looked at the morning sun and sees buzzards flying in the generaldirection he's heading. His stomach growls for food

Coming across a small dried riverbed, he spots what appears to be dried blood on the trail and a woman's torn dress. Its been a long time since leaving Gads Hill and even longer since being a lawman. He looks for possible signs of struggle, how many horse tracks and anything else. These kind of mystery murders were the kind that could take a man a lifetime to figure out especially out here, whereever this was.

He watches the buzzards and a stinch thickens the air. his mindset changes from drifter to tracker to lawman. He picks up the trail and spots more blood. The victim has been dragged off somewhere beyond the fork of the riverbed. Stepping down off the horse, he squats down to take some measurements of the tracks and feel the consistancy of the dried blood. Pulling the reins of his horse, he walks gingerly along the riverbed looking for anything that could help him in solving this murder. He draws his pearl handled revolver as he nears the fork of the river and peeks along the outer bank. there behind a boulder, a woman's leg can be seen.

The buzzards are everywhere, firing his revolver in the air, all of them scatter and leave him alone. Shaking his head, he looks at the victim, she was a pretty woman but most of the flesh has been eatten away, clear off the bone. If she had dental work done somewhere in the nearest town, maybe they could identify her. He takes a look around and spots what appears to be a fancy broken Silver Spur in the sand where the murderer raped his victim. Wild Bill pulls his Bowie knife from its sheath and lifts the spur out of the sand...attached is a little bell to the spur. His first clue...

Wrapping the remains in old wagon canvas cover McCabe lays the deceased on the back on his horse and walks down the trail some. Seeing no other evidence, he swings his leg over and sits upright in the saddle, he then turns toward the direction of the footprints in the sand and trots down until the prints simply disappear. Looking up he smells the cookings of many kitchens...

He trots toward the town.

Pardon me ma'am can you direct me to the morgue and the local Lawman?

Dusty's quickly awoke when Pearl rapped on the door. His eyes shot about the room accessing his surroundings then it all came back to him; he had been taken in by Precious Matthews. As he stirred, he quickly became aware of the warm body laying by his side and looking over saw that Miss Brooks had curled up alongside him in the night. He didn't blame her, it probably got right chilly he only wished he would have been more coherent to enjoy the closeness.

"Miss Brooks?" Dusty said softly as he slid out from under her.

Heather snuggled deeper into the pillow and continued to slumber and so Dusty took the opportunity to put his clothes back on. While still buttoning up his shirt he stepped tenderly across the cold floor in his bare feet and answered the door. He was sore, but felt much better than he did after Haddrick's men put their heels to him. He showed little signs of swelling anymore, but his jaw, cheek and eye were a purplish blue, and his lips were patched with dark scabs.

"Good morning, Miss.... er..... Pearl." Dusty greeted. For the life of him he couldn't remember the woman's surname, but then he couldn't remember a lot of what went on the previous night.

"Breakfast, eh? Well I'm right obliged, but if'n it's not too much trouble."

Dusty became very conscientious when Pearl noticed Heather still asleep in the bed. She was fully clothed, but this didn't make the cowboy feel any better about things. "Now its not the way it looks." he explained, "I think she got cold in the night.... and I don't remember a thing.... not that there's anything to remember, I mean..." He breathed in deeply then, realizing he was rambling, "... all hell. I'll get her up and we'll be down in a quarter of an hour if that would be all right?"

When it was Dusty that opened the door instead of Heather, Pearl couldn’t help but blink. When she glanced past the man and saw Miss Brooks in the bed, she glanced back at Dusty. As the man began to ramble on about how things looked then finally agreed to breakfast, Peal held her hands up in mock surrender and giggled softly.

”Mister, you don’t need to explain nothin’ t’me. What ever you and Miss Brooks do or don’t do in the privacy of this room is yer business. Besides, who am I to say anything about what it looks like? I work in a whore house. Remember? I’ll be sure to let Emily know you two’ll be down shortly.”

With a smile on her face, Pearl turned on her heel and slipped down the hall to where Josie’s room was and knocked on the door after pressing her ear to the door and not hearing anything within.

”Josie? Tom? You two OK? Would ya want some breakfast this mornin’?

Josie was snuggled up against Tom and when she heard the knock and Pearl’s voice from the other side of the door, her drug fogged mind thought she was dreaming. All she knew was that she was warm, comfortable, and not ready to get up just yet. She muttered something in her native Spanish as she eased back against Tom again.

W H 'Wild Bill' McCabe watched as the woman turned toward the boy who spoke broken english. Sorry momma dont speak english....I can help you. The funeral parlor is closed and wont open for a couple hours but I can go find the sheriff for ya.

Ok...Wild Bill flipped the boy a coin to go find the sheriff, lookin over his shoulder he spotted the Candlelight Hotel and Saloon. He watched the boy run down the street as McCabe sat in his saddle for a minute and scrathed his beard...I wonder if they have a bath house and a barber shop in town.

Sliding off his saddle, he tied off his horse, grabbed his saddle bags, roll and stepped into the hotel.

Howdy...

Hi Starnger...you need a room?

Yes Sir...need a few things, scrathing his beard... including a bath and a shave as well. Can ya help me with that?

Ahhh...there's a whore house down the ways and I do believe they got a bath house in thar. Even got breakfast if your a paying customer..

Hmmm well...let put my saddle bags up in the room and then I might take ya up on that.

Sign right here and it'll be 1 dollar...

ok thanks grabbing his saddlebags WH walked up the stairs to room 4.