[DL] LONG!! (also slight spoilers for BE:TS) A Chronicle of the Adventure of the Shaw Posse - Entry I

[J Tolle <jwtolle@altavista.com>]

Howdy all,

Here is another posting of my posse's first session.  Let me know what y'all think.

If I remember rightly a kindly young man agreed to post stories like this on his 'Whatchyamcallit Web Site Thingie.'  Well, If'n this yarn makes the grade in his book then he is welcome to it.  Just drop me a line here for permission first.

Oh yeah, this is a long one folks!

Finally, if'n you think your Marshall will take you to Nashville, it just might spoil some of your fun if'n you read this.  So check with your Marshall first.

Jeff Tolle
----------------------------------------------------
A Chronicle of the Adventure of the Shaw Posse Entry I

In which our heroes rescue a damsel in distress, meets a potential friend, and see some things that just ain’t natural.

Prologue

Thomas Shaw sits in the Nashville branch of the Texas Ranger's office.  The man across the desk from him is his contact here, one Bernard Oglethorpe.  Well, Thomas mused, you can't fault a man for his name.  Fault his ma and pa mebbe, but not the man.  He was in Nashville at the Ranger’s request.  Not that he is a Ranger, mind you; he just does work for them.  On a whim he had decided to ask along a brooding young man that he took a shinin’ to, Will Shaw (no relation.)

Chapter 1

Thomas and Will had rolled in last night from down South.  Thomas reckoned that the Rangers were grooming him for some spy work.  Mebbe from here it would be on to Dodge, or St. Louis.  The travel was nothing to him, seeing as how he'd been all the way on the other side of the world.  Besides, the Rangers had always done right by him.  He reckoned he'd die someday on a damned fool Ranger mission.  Not anytime soon you know, but someday.  And he'd die six guns a blazin', dropping some hell spawn beast in it's tracks.

Mr. Oglethorpe was in the middle of his narrative about Nashville.  "The City of Sin" Mr. Oglethorpe intoned.  "And she lives up to the name.  For you two boys, that means keep away from Spring Street, unless you got good reason.  There are some things a man can pick up down there that ain't easily remedied, if you know what I mean.  Besides, there are some ugly going's on down there, that I don't much cotton to you civilians getin' folk stirred up over something we Rangers can handle.  I don't want any "loose cannons" blowing to hell all the work I've done."

Unaware of his double entendre, Oglethorpe lowers an eye at Thomas' partner, William Shaw (Will to his friends and traveling companions.)  It seemed that Will's reputation proceeded him.  Thomas can only hope that means that the Rangers know they are not related.  Will was a youngster, but he had a lot of hate built up for someone still wet behind the ears.

A huge scar that slid pell-mell across his face marred Will’s face, and the tight-lipped boy never ventured anything about the hideous cut.  Thomas reckoned it probably had a great deal to do with Will's barely restrained anger, and maybe even his Paw.  Will mentioned his Paw once to Thomas and his face filled with an ugly mixture of admiration, hate, love and disgust.  Couple Will’s simmering emotions with a lightning fast draw, and uncanny marksmanship, and he is just damn scary sometimes.  Thomas was just glad Will was one of the good guys.  Despite all that, Thomas and Will had a real affection for each other.  Like they were brothers, even though they were no relation.

"Well, why are we here then," asked Will - he was always one for cutting to the chase.

"To help a Damsel in distress." Bernard's mood visibly altered, becoming lighter, but more business like.  He's in familiar territory, thinks Thomas.  Looks like he enjoys his work.  "Seems there is a problem with the wife of a local politician.  Mrs. Acklen was a prominent bachelor in town before Mr. Beasley Came and swept her off her feet.  Her husband, Mr. Beasley is up for reelection in the mayor's race.  He's running against a Negro, Mr. James C. Napier, and the race is pretty tight.  Anyway, she has been trying to contact the Rangers for a while.  I went to several parties that Mrs. Acklen also attended.  Despite the fact she knows that I am a member of the Rangers, she never approached me.  Instead she chose to send a note."

Oglethorpe pulled a small perfumed parchment from his pile of papers.  He tossed it across the table to Thomas and Will.  Thomas read:

"Dear Sir,

I fear for my life, or the sham that is left of it.  I know that I have made some bad decisions in my life, but I never thought that my marriage would be one of them.  I respectfully request you send a knight errant to rescue me from this intolerable situation.

Truly,

Adelicia Acklen"

"I'm embarrassed to admit that we have not given this too much thought.  Until now, we never had men to spare.  And after all, Mrs. Acklen is known for her, shall we say, exaggerations.  She's pretty, rich and as nice as can be, but not the smartest young lady.  Furthermore, she is not very specific about what's ailin' her.  I would recommend that you start with askin' her some questions.  I think it's probably a marital dispute, but you never know.  See if you can't get something specific out of her.  Her home lies just over the Cumberland river."  He pointed out the window at a huge anti-diluvium palace, visible even from this distance.  "You can see it from here."

Chapter 2

Thomas and Will step out of the shade, squinting against the autumn sun.  Immediately, both men pull up short as a man the size of a horse lumbers by.  Thomas is shocked as he recognized the giant who just passed him.  Well at least he recognizes him from a description.  Big as mountain, bald as cue ball, with a flaming red handlebar moustache.  It was as if the man stepped of a circus poster.

"'Scuse me Hoss, but are you Michael O'Brien?"  Thomas ventured.

The walking house stops and turns to Thomas. "Shurin' I am.  Who might be askin'?"  The lilt in his voice identified him as Irish.  Both Thomas and Will had Irish blood in them, and they both smiled at the familiar accent.

"Well, I'm Thomas Shaw.  This here's Will Shaw.  (No relation.)  But I recon' I'm askin' on behalf of Cora "Red" O'Brien."

"By my sainted mother, you know me sister Cora."  Michael laughed.  "I thought she was transported to the Antipodes for poaching a quail."

"If by that you mean she went to Australia, then that'd be the same lady.  I have had the pleasure of traveling to that fine land, and I met Cora there.  She's a fine upstandin' woman who has made a new life for herself there.  Plus she saved my bacon more than once."  Then Thomas got an idea.  If Michael is anything like his sister, he has an honorable streak a mile wide.  Furthermore, he looks capable of handling most anything that is thrown his way.  "I'd be honored to buy you a drink, Michael."

"Well, I am here te look for work, but Thomas, I declare, that's the best offer I've had all day."

"Tell ya what Michael.  If you will accompany us on a little errand before hand, I might be able to get you a job to go with that drink."

"By my sainted mother, Thomas, you just might be an angel from heaven.  Let's see what you got, then."

"We just have to make a delivery to a house over the river.  The pay is $10, but there's more if you should decide to stick around."

And so they set off, discussing terms of payment, towards the large mansion on the other side of the Cumberland River.

Chapter 3

The posse arrived at the mansion where hey were greeted by a tall thin fellow who way lollygaggin' around the front gates.  Slim was a good a name as any for the surly looking man.  Thomas approached him, and asked to speak to the lady of the house.

"And who might you be," asks the young man.

"We were sent to pick up a package," Replies Thomas, thinking quickly.  "We are couriers for the lady of the house."

The man smiles slyly.  "Oh are you then.  Well I reckon you can wait right here, while I go talk to her."  As he speaks he pointedly leans to the side showing his sidearm.  The moment teeters on the edge of fisticuffs, or even gunplay.  Then Will speaks up, allowing that maybe it would be better if the guard runs off to get the package.  And so Slim saunters off.  Up at the mansion, Michael happens to see a woman peering furtively from one of the upper windows.  Mrs. Acklen he reckons, and she doesn't look too happy. 

After a while Slim is back, carrying a folded note.  He holds it out, and as Thomas reaches for it, he snatches it back.

"Didn't you tell me you were here to pick up a package?"

"Well, that's what we were told, but looks like it's just a note."  Thomas replies

Slim eyes them.  "And they sent three of you huh?"

Instead of answering, Tomas just snatches the note.  But Slim wants to know more.  "I see its goin' to her sister, but there's no address.  You know her sister lives across town right."

"Right." Agrees Thomas.

About the time the posse was crossin' the Cumberland again, Thomas pulls out the note, and opens it.  Michael is aghast.

"You can't be doin' that boyo.  That mail is fer her sister." Says Michael

"Actually, it's for us."  Corrects Will.  "She is trying to get a message to us, and after our visit, I can see why.  She's basically a prisoner in her own home."

Thomas reads aloud.  “Dear Rangers (for that is who I hope you are.), I have uncovered a plot where my husband looks to rig the upcoming mayoral election.  He claims that no Negro should ever hold office in the CSA, let alone Nashville.  I think he is not above hurting or killing others to reach his goal.

Please do not fault me for what seems like treachery.  I feel that he is not the man I married.  He fooled me into believing he was a caring man, however this could not be father from the truth.  Please, help me.  I took great risk to get this message to you.”

"Well boys," says Will, "looks like things just got interesting.  We gotta figure out a way to get a message back to her."


Interlude

As the group returns to downtown looking for a bar they came across a strange sight.  An Indian, in full native dress, is stopping people on the street.  Most brush the pleading Indian aside, some gently others rudely, but no one stops to talk.  As they approach, the Indian looks towards the posse.

He first turns to Will.

"Are you the hero I was sent here to find?"

Will is obviously unnerved, and stands stunned, unable to answer.  Disappointment washes over the inquisitive man's face, but he presses on, asking the same question of Thomas.  Thomas, too, was surprised but he answers.

"Umm..  I reckon I could be."

"Excellent," he replies "I am Soaring Spirit Eagle, although some call me Jake.  Coyote told me I would find you here, in the city of white man's sin.  Meet me Saturday morning at 8:00 where Main St. dead ends at the Cumberland.  From there you will accompany me back to meet my poor deluded employer.  He is meddling with things he barely understands.  You are the one to stop him."

With that Jake turned and walked away.

Chapter 4

Michael couldn't believe his incredible luck.  Here he was, first time in Nashville.  He just left the circus not two weeks ago, and headed west.  And here he is getting paid $10 a week, and now his new employers are taking him out for a drink or three.

They turn into a bar just over the river, right off of Spring Street.    It isn’t long before a young lady approaches Michael, fawning over his large biceps.  Michael was obviously flattered, but still he looked very uncomfortable.  “After all,” He confides to Thomas “I promised my sainted mother that I would never lie down with a woman who was not my wife.”

No sooner are the words off his lips then Michael turns to the bartender.  "'Scuse me sir, would you please marry me and this lady here."  He turns to Will. "That would make her my eighth wife so far."

After some coaxing the bartender agrees.  Michael stands up and tosses the young lady over his shoulder, all ready to head upstairs.  Thomas however is not so sure this is a good idea.  Mr. Oglethorpe was pretty explicit about keeping away from the soiled doves.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"  He asks Michael.  "I mean you hardly know her."  Will pipes in. "What do you care.  Let him have his fun." 

"Yes," the young lady replies, "This is none of your concern."  But her low growl smacks of hunger and desperation, and as she speaks Thomas seen a predatory glint in her eye.  Worse still, he could swear he saw a sharpened canine peek out from under her upper lip.  Now he is really concerned.

"Let's get you out of here."  Thomas says.  "We can just take you back to the Rose hotel.  There will be plenty to drink there."

As they left, Michael could have sworn he heard his new ex-wife say "Don't think for a minute this is over.  There will be another time and another place."

Chapter 5

Will Shaw was not used to the big city.  He came back east chasing the man who killed his father, but he was not prepared for just how different life back east really would be.  It was a matter of pure convenience that he joined up with Tommy, mainly cause he was connected to the Rangers.  He knew his pappy's killer was an outlaw of the highest order.  So why not join the men who hunt down outlaws. Still, some of the Ranger's credo had washed off on him.  Despite his short fuse, he was not a cold-blooded killer.  He did, in fact, try to do right by the Rangers, and by proxy the people of the CSA.  It seemed like Thomas was the only man who had an inkling what Will was about.  He respected Thomas for that.  That's why, he reckoned, they had managed to stay together as a team.  Sure Thomas could rub him the wrong way, but hell, who couldn't.

Take the other evening, as a ferinstance.  After the adventures of the day, Will, Thomas and Michael the new guy had headed back to the Confederate Rose Inn.  They sat around the table discussing the day's events, in particular, how to get a message back to Mrs. Acklen.  Will noticed that several people had taken an interest in their conversation.  Most notably the three ladies who owned this establishment.  The conversation wandered, as conversations are wont to do.  They talked about the potentially racist mayor, and from there to Nathan Bedford Forest.  Thomas took that cue to speak his mind on Mr. Forrest and his racist views, and what he had to say was not pretty.  Will reckoned he couldn't disagree, and said so.

"I'll buy a drink to that."  It was the man behind the bar, who happened to be a Negro.  He slid a drink sown the bar, but before it got down to Thomas, a hand shot out and grabbed it.  It belonged to a rough looking young man wearing a sneer.  Behind him stood three more men looking just as ready for trouble.  He slowly and deliberately took a long drink. Then turned and asked "Is there a problem here?"

Well that just got Will's goat.  "I reckon there is ‘cause you're drinkin' our whiskey."

"So you're the smart guy, huh.  Well, I heard your opinions of our fine mayor, and of the war hero Mr. Forrest, and I don't cotton to it.  I'm calling you out, boy."

Chapter 6

Will stood facing the young tough right outside the Confederate Rose Inn.  Despite his front, Will had never been in this situation before.  I mean he knew how it was supposed to be done, but dammed if it didn't sound easier than it looked.  The two men locked eyes.  Will slowly lowered his hand watching the man standing across from him, mirroring the achingly slow move.  Except for his slowly creeping arm, Will was stock-still.  His stance was not tense, more poised and hungry. Will let his finger twitch just slightly, just enough to be seen.  To the unobservant there seemed to be no reaction from the other boy, but Will saw him tense then start to sweat.  On more time should do it, Will figured.  He let his finger twitch again.  That broke him.  The boy was in motion.  Desperately, Will reached for his gun too.

One shot rang out.

The boy dropped, groaning in pain.  Suddenly everyone was in motion.  The ruffian's gang spun, their hands dropping to their side.  But seemingly before they could react, Thomas pointed a shotgun at them

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."  Thomas warned, "Now get out of here."

That was Thomas for ya.  He had Will's back.  And, so it seems, had the man behind the bar.  Even Michael was on the porch backing him up.  He looked mighty imposing, slapping what looked like steel doweling in his open palm.   Maybe Michael would turn out to be all right.

"Leave the boy."  Thomas ordered.  For a tense moment it looked like the gang might slap leather, and try to beat the shotgun.  But they backed down.

Thomas went forward where the kid lay, moaning on the dusty street.  The boy merely shook his head in mute terror.  Something caught Thomas' eye, and he ripped open his shirt. There, tattooed on his chest, was a golden circle with a K inside it.

After questioning the boy on the street, the posse learned that he was a fledgling member of a band of an anti-Negro group that longed for the return of the old south.  He did not seem to know much more than that that, so the posse decided to take him to see Mr. Oglethorpe.

When Will stepped back into the inn, the three ladies who owned the Inn were there to greet him.  They reintroduced themselves as Mrs. Michelle Breaunix, Mrs. Lynette Hill, and Mrs. Tanith MacLaughlin, and thanked the posse for clearing out the ruffians.   It turns out they had heard the conversation about poor Mrs. Acklen’s plight, and that furthermore they knew her from somethin’ called junior league.  Michael asked them if they could get a message to her.  “Sure,” Mrs. Breaunix replied, “but we can do one better than that.  There is a cotillion ball this Friday night at The Confederate Soldiers Memorial Hall.  We can arrange for you to be at the ball.   She is bound to be there as well.”

Mrs. Hill clapped her hands.  "We're going to the ball."  Will's opened his mouth to protest, but thought better.  Instead he just stared at Thomas and Michael.  He wasn't sure he was getting paid enough to go to a ball.  Hopefully he wouldn't have to dance.

Chapter 7

So the posse was off to a cotillion ball with the cream of Nashville's upper crust.  But first they had to get tuxedoes.  After a brief stop at Mr. Oglethorpe's office, they headed out.

Mr. Oglethorpe had some mighty revealing information for the boys.  Turns out, the boy who Will shot was a member of the Knights of the Golden Circle of Kulkos.  Also known as the Kulkos Klan, they were a racist band of revolutionaries who wanted to return to a pre-abolition South.  No wonder they got riled at Thomas' talk of Nathan Bedford Forrest.  It was also now obvious why those boys supported Mr. Beasley for mayor over the Negro Mr. James C. Napier.

Word came down from a high muckity-muck in the Ranger’s office that the Knights of the Golden Circle were very bad news.  Should the Knights take over Nashville it would ‘cause all kinds of trouble for the Rangers and President Davis.  As for the young boy, Mr. Oglethorpe agreed to take him in and promised to “take care” of him.  With a nod and a wink from Bernard, the posse was sure he was in good hands.  And so, the posse was on their way to get fitted for the ball.

Feeling horribly trapped, the posse now sits in the foyer of the Confederate Rose Inn.  Their dates for the evening preen over them.  Despite the relatively close fitting tuxedoes, each member of the posse manages to hide a weapon on their persons, each with varying degrees of success.  Thomas and Will even had their guns.  As they stiffly sit from outside there grows a strange wailing moan.  "Oh, the steam wagon is here." proclaimed Mrs. MacLaughlin.

The ride in the steam wagon is bumpy and eerie, what with the constant moaning from the burning ghost rock.  It is soon over, as they arrive at the huge home somewhere south of the heart of Nashville.

At the ball, it doesn't take long until the ladies want to dance.  Michael is willing to oblige, but as it turns out, is a horrible dancer.  Thomas politely declines, and Will has other things on his mind.  He has spotted Mr. Beasley across the room with several other men, including the lanky guard from the mansion encounter the other day.  And behind them, tucked in the corner like an afterthought or a naughty child, is Mrs. Acklen.  Will brazenly walks right up to the entourage in the corner.

"Well, well, well what do we have here?"  It is the guard from the other day.  He lowers his voice a mite and adds.  "I reckon you can take your poor white trash ass right on out of here afore someone gets hurt."

"I'm gonna whoop your ugly ass."  Will, on the other hand, does not lower his voice.  Several of the nearby patrons take a pointed step back.

"You talk pretty, big boy, but can you back it up."

"I reckon I can.” said Will.  He flashes Slim his smuggled peacemaker to back up his statement.  Slim smiles, and rubs his hands together.  Will swears he sees a flash of cards behind a covering hand.  But when he stops, his hands were empty.

"Not with that rusted old thing you won't."  That comment surprises Will, and he glances down at his gun.  Sure enough it is rusted near plum through.  It looks like it was left outside in a bucket of salt water since the war began.  Deciding discretion is the better part of valor he retreats.

Thomas meanwhile takes the less direct route.  He had decides to dance with his date, Mrs. Hill.  As he hoped, Mrs. Acklen and Mr. Beasley have also taken to the floor.  He simply asks Mrs. Hill to “cut in”.  Luckily Mrs. Hill is able to charm Mr. Beasley that everything is on the up-and-up.  Perhaps it is more luck than anything else, but it seemed that Slim never told Mr. Beasley about Thomas.  So now Thomas has his chance.

"We are here to help you.  The Rangers sent us." Mrs. Acklen almost collapses into tears.  "Here's the plan," he tells her.  "In fifteen minutes, excuse yourself, and go to the ladies room.  I will meet you there.  We will get you outside."

"I have proof of what my husband is up to, here in my purse."

Very surreptitiously Thomas slips the papers into his cumber bun.  "Wonderful.  Now lets get back to our original dance partners."

Chapter 8

After reading the note, Michael returns to the posse.  "This is what the plan is.  In a minute, the mayor's wife is going to the ladies room.  I am going out of the ballroom to spirit her away from here.  I have some information that may prove the mayoral election is rigged.  Will, I want you to come with me, but don't be to brazen about it.  Michael, keep our charges safe.”

Will, being from out west, heads outside to look for an outhouse.  Thomas, not realizing Will is heading in the wrong direction, proceeds on to the fancy rest room, complete with separate room for Ladies and Gents.  It even has indoor plumbing.

Thomas hides around the corner.  Soon enough he sees Mrs. Acklen slip out of the ballroom and into the rest room.  Thomas quickly walks around the corner, but at the door he draws up short.  He just realized he was about to walk into the ladies room.  "Ladies, everyone out.  'Cause I'm comin' in."  And with that fair warning, in he goes.

Back in the ballroom, Michael is relaxin', perhaps taking a little more nips from the than he should.  All in all, he had it pretty easy, he reckons.  All you can drink and $10 a day.  That's when pandemonium breaks out.  Suddenly, someone in the back of the ballroom screams, then a wall of people begins to rush toward the doors.  Michael tells the ladies to go home where it was safe.  Swimming upstream in the river of people, Michael works his way towards whatever lay at the back of the room.  There in the corner is a young man, as best as Michael can tell, since there was not too much left of his face.  It looked like it slid off his face, like so much melted wax.  Michael turned and ran in horror.

In the shuffle Michael catches sight of the young "soiled dove" from the bar the other night.  She is calmly sauntering to the door, and gives Michael a saucy wink and a wave that seems to say “I’ll see you again.”  Michael can only stagger in stunned awe as she swiftly disappears into the crowd.  The tips of her fingers looked like they were covered in wax.

Once Thomas fought past the annoyed ladies pouring out of the room, he sees Mrs. Aicken in the back of the room.  She wants to know what is happening.  Lacking a good answer, Thomas instead looks around.  Under one of the wooden stalls he notices one set of dainty legs.  "Mam, you need to get out."  He only hears a shy, "I can't right now."  In his embarrassment, he decides to let it go, a mistake he would soon regret.

Thomas opens the frosted window on the far wall, and gives Mrs. Acklen a boost.  Right in the middle of the lift he feels a blow to his kidneys.  It is a cold blunt feeling that left him gasping for air.  He almost drops Mrs. Acklen; instead he gives her one last undignified push.  He then turns, reaching for his sidearm, only to find no one there.

That’s when it dawns on Thomas just where the man might be.  He begins to look under the stalls, when there is a flash of light.  From the endmost stall a man screams in pain and horror.  Under the howls of pain, Thomas is sure he hears a otherworldly laughter, that pierces his skull like a cannonball, despite it soft insistent, even friendly tone.  With that Thomas is out the window.

Outside, as luck would have it, Will wanders around the corner, wondering what all the screaming is about, and just where the hell is Thomas.  Mrs. Acklen just about lands in his lap, and right behind her is Thomas himself.  "We have to get out of here.  I think that's Finnegan inside there.  He won't let me leave alive."

“You need not worry about Finnegan anymore Miss.”  Says Thomas.  “Looks like he mighta hurt hisself real bad.”

Eventually the rest of the posse winds up together outside, Mrs. Acklen in tow.  The steam wagon is nowhere to be found, and The Confederate Soldier’s Memorial Hall is deserted.  It is a long walk back to the Inn, and soon it began to rain.

Epilogue

By Saturday evening the posse stands in the misting rain at the train station.  They came here at the request of the young Indian named Soaring Spirit Eagle.  The name Jake, it turns out, is what his boss calls him.  Jake says it’s ‘cause his boss thinks Jake is really his son.

After the ball, Thomas talked with Bernard Oglethorpe, who really read Thomas the riot act.  While they did help save Mrs. Acklen, Mr. Oglethorpe considered their actions far too high profile for Nashville, especially the near riot.  It did not help that the local police got involved before the Rangers could do their work.  Thomas protested that they had nothing to do with the stranger in the back of the ballroom, but Bernard was not swayed in the least.

He stung Thomas with the words, "As a representative of the Rangers you should have handled the situation quietly, no mater what happened.  Even if it was unexpected.  Especially, if it was unexpected."  Thomas was thankful that they had the damming papers to stop the corrupted mayoral race.  Otherwise the posse would have really been in hot water.  Mr. Oglethorpe promised that the Rangers could stop any foul play in the election.  The conversation had ended with a recommendation that Thomas, Will, and their newfound friend, Michael had best just move along. 

So the posse finds themselves here.  Jake had offered to pay their rail passage to some town in the Great Maze called Gomorra.  Being a man from the South, Thomas is still a little unsure about heading through the heart of the USA and Deseret into independent California, but here he was.
 
So, they stand, more wet than dry, waiting for the train to take them into the heart of the Weird West.


Find the best deals on the web at AltaVista Shopping!
http://www.shopping.altavista.com