Barlowe Station

Listening to the bartender Kane nods along, then nudges Ruby. "Maybe we ought to buy him a drink and you can charm him with your womanly wiles. Maybe make a sale even. Bring him down off his perch. Whadya think?"

He turns to the others to see what they think of the idea.

Delilah takes another drink and shrugs, which gradually turns into a nod. She’s got her values and such, but the fact is that the brunette is pretty green when it comes to true peacemakin’. Her eyes are on the mayor, beneath the wide brim of her hat.

"Makes some sense. Hear the other side of the story and all. Maybe just defuse things long enough for the Marshal to get back. Calm the water and such."

"Ayup, that's the idea. Buy some time." Now Kane does tap his finger on the bar for another round. Seems like things might be in hand soon enough.

Varney chats for a while with others then leaves. Your not sure, but maybe he's coming back from his body language. Soon it's time for you to watch Knaggs for the deputy, and you're not certain what's going to happen.

All of you going to go to the Marshall's office, any gonna stand outside, or elsewhere?

"You all go watch the prisoner. I'll see if I can talk to Varney and maybe dissuade him of starting anything. I have some concoctions that could mellow a man out, or make him take a nice long nap."

"You got that in hand," Delilah says as they pay up and exit the saloon, and as she adjusts the fit of her gun belt on her hips, "or could you use some backup?"

"I think I can handle this. We don't want to appear too hostile and aggressive. It requires a deft touch, and maybe a strong tonic." She smiles.

You all split up, covering various places. Delilah questions Knaggs, but he ain't sayin nothin, not keen on his chances with the judge for the things he's done. DD gets the impression the man is guilty as sin and is playing they only card he's got plenty: admit nothing and hope for a miracle

Dirt and Kane keep lookout, and Ruby tries to get into trouble.

She follows Varney to his shop, Varney's Mercantile, over around the corner by the saloon.

A tall man in his early forties, Varney’s black hair is beginning to gray at the temples. His confident manner, combined with a quick temper, make him an imposing figure.

Ruby enters the shop and takes a quick look around. "Nice place you got here," she says. Always open with flattery. "General stores are the heart of any town. But I'm looking for some un-general ingredients. Nothing illegal mind, just not something the average Joe needs. You wouldn't happen to have any dried saffron or potash?" Ruby flutters her eyelashes at him.

"Well aren't you a beautiful lady, welcome welcome, to Varney's Mercantile. I'm the proprietor, Sam Varney, and also they mayor of Varney Flats. Now saffron, that's an exotic spice, and I'm plumb out of that at the moment. Potash I can do. Got a three pound sack in the back. A tanner ordered it and well, he ain't come for it, so I'm happy to sell it to such a charming and refined lady such as yourself. "

He's flashy and charming, with the kind of engaging smile that draws in most folk and pushes away just a few.

"Welp, Dirt, you reckon we will have fight on our hands before too long, do ya?"

Kane rummages around in his pocket for another plug of tobacco. "That Ruby's quite a woman. I figure she can handle that Varney fella if not by charm then by one of her famous elixirs. Seemed to get me clean enough after that outhouse crap," he chuckles.

"We best listen and make sure though." Kane stands up near the door where he's sure he will hear any angry voices with plenty of time to do something about it.

"Well, don’t listen too closely now." he warns. "Ain’t nothing like a woman to keep a man from fighting. There also ain’t nothing like a woman to set a man to fighting neither, if he think another fella is sniffing around some." he says, with a smirk as the other man chews away.

"Well I think three pounds might be a little too much for a lady like myself, but I'd gladly buy a bottle's worth, if you don't mind portioning it out." Ruby then gives a big stretch, theatrically exaggerated to show off her lithe body and curves. "Train rides are not easy on the body, are they, Mr. Varney? What can a woman do in this town to loosen up?"