IC - 1. Gainful Employment

[Tabs]

Harriet busies herself preparing their food. She waits until sundown, as Clancy said, to light the fire and cook a hearty supper.

To anyone: "If you boyz want coffee, we'll need water."

[ghill]

Strachan

Dismounting from his horse, Strachan leads it into the woods following after the Sheriff. Wherever the Sheriff chooses to camp Strachan tries to find a place which will allow him to sleep near the horse, he's read enough dime novels to know the red savages, will sneak into a white's camp and steal their horses and anything else not nailed down and he has no intention of letting it happen to him. He then starts to rub down his horse.

Noticing Harriet preparing a fire, he rests a hand on her shoulder stopping her from lighting it

You sure you don't want a cold routine sheriff? if those killers have sent a man to cover the back trail, they'll likely see the light of it, if not the smoke.

OOC:   if the sheriff says yes to the fire, then strachan simply picks up his bed roll and moves himself as far from the fire as possible.

[Priest]

Farnsworthy:

Sliding down from the horse he spends several moments slapping dust from his clothes all the while watching as the negress busys herself building a fire. As the flames crackle to life he looks in the direction where they had been travelling. For a few moments he seems deep in thought, then shrugging his shoulders he leads his mount off away from the fire and trail a little, before unbuckling the saddle allowing it and its various acoutrements to slide to the floor.
Unfastening his blanket he spreads it on the floor rhen sits cross legged, his bible beside him, and begins the meticulous process of cleaning his pistol. He takes the cylinder out, empties the powder and ball, cleans each of the six chambers, before reloading and fixing new caps to the nipples. Once that's complete he opens a pouch at his belt takes out a spare cylinder and repeats the process. Once finished he replaces the cylinder within the pistols frame, snaps home the retaining pins and spins the cylinder twice.
"Always check the cylinder, seen to many men kilt 'cause of a misfire or a dud cap"/color] he was speaking to no one in particular. Replacing the sixshooter into its leather scabard he picks up the Bible, takes a small pair of glasses from the inside pocket of his jacket, puts them on and opening the book begins to read slowly and deliberately...

[Mr. Handy]

"We should set a watch," suggests James. "I'd say four watches, two men to a watch. I'll volunteer for first watch." He knows he's sturdy enough to stay up longer, and this way he can also have the rest of the night to sleep uninterrupted.

[NFVD]

Mario "El Monje" Malhecho

Mario volunteers to make the first watch with James. He wants an early night.

[Papa Gateau]

I reckon' we're safe enough with a fire tonight, them boys been settin' a fair pace. The hill will hide the fire, if they double back and smoke ain't gonna be problem tonight.

Clancy glances up at the thin crescent moon

Two on watch is good, one head up to the crest of the hill, lookout to the West, the other stays around camp. Two hours on.

Mario, James you up first, as you put your hands up, McGill boys you next, then Hank, John, Me and the Preacher take the dead of night, Seth, Patrick take us through to sun up

You set up yourselves up in and around the campfire, whilst Harriet busies herself making a meal. Once the sun has dropped, the air temperature drops with it and the damp rises from the ground. You pass the time making small talk. Around 10pm, you start spreading out your bedrolls to get some shut-eye.

OOC:   All, If you want to role-play conversation around the camp, go ahead. If not, then give me spot-hiddens for your respective watches.

[ghill]

Strachan

Strachan nods at the sheriff Clancy's decision and lifts his hand from Harriet's shoulder with a gentle smile. I hope you gentlemen wont think me impolite, but I'm going to get my head down.

[ic-think],Perhaps, if he'd been shot at a few times the sheriff might worry less about a hot coffee, and more about whether bad men do as you expect them to.[/ic-think]

When it comes his turn to stand watch Strachan banks the coals so the fire doesn't go out or need to be fed more than a minimum and then stays as far from the fire as possible in an effort to keep his night vision. Sitting just outside the camp and above it if possible, making sure the others know where he's settled. Then with his shotgun over his knee he tries to let his senses used to the night.

Spot hidden 40% 1d100=31

[Mr. Handy]

James takes the post at the top of the hill, where he watches alertly.

[Tabs]

Harriet has soon cooked enough vittles for all. She carries plates to Sheriff Clancy, Murdoch and Strachan, "The rest of 'em," she thinks, "will have to help 'emselves." She notes that Strachan has positioned himself out of the firelight, and does the same, but not too far away: she ensures that she is near to Clancy; and later she beds down near to Murdoch when he finishes his watch.

Harriet watches the stars revolve around the heavens.

[NFVD]

Mario gets his .44 Henry Repeating Rifle and sets down for his watch turn.

Spoiler:

Mario's Spot Hidden roll 1d100=79

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you kindly, Miss Tubman," says James when Harriet brings his grub. He says grace before tucking into the food, which is tasty as always.

[Papa Gateau]

The night and your respective watches pass without incident.

As the eastern horizon begins to lighten with the pre-dawn glow, you are awoken by the smell of coffee as the younger McGill brother, stirs up the embers of the fire and makes a brew.

Harriet quickly takes over the duties and makes a simple breakfast of beans and bacon. Within an hour, you are back on the trail, heading west.

The morning is fresh, with a damp chill but by mid-morning the sun has burned off the dew and the sun feels good on your backs.

All,Can I have Spot Hidden rolls please

[ghill]

Strachan

Sits upright on his horse happy with the state of things. Perhaps the sheriff was right, these aren't soldiers they're chasing merely brigands. Even so Strachan had stuck to his morning routine wiping down each of his guns in turn, changing powder and ball on his pistols to make sure everything was in working order and taking out the shotgun cartridges to make sure they are sound. He'd then fed and seen to his horse before taking a a bowl of breakfast with thanks from Harriet.

Strachan is perhaps overly relaxed taking in his surroundings, but not seeing the fine detail.

Spot Hidden(40): 1d100=45

[Tabs]

Why thank you, Mr. McGill," says Harriet, pouring herself a mug of coffee.

~

Oh, what a glorious morning!" she says.

Spot Hidden,25% [dice]0[/dice]

[Priest]

Farnsworthy:

Looks up from his Bible, reading while riding is not difficult for someone used to it. He glances to the rear of the column of horsemen and dazzled by the morning sun is for a moment once again riding somwhere on the Missouri-Kansas border a tall shadow moves across the sun, he almost splutters Cap..., but manages to catch himself.
He quickly looks around him, bringing himself back to the present.

Spot Hidden,25% 1d100 → [83] = (83) http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4810674/

[NFVD]

Mario "El Monje" Malhecho

The Mexican is quiet and out-of-the-way this morning, vanishing for a few minutes for his ablutions. The only curious event is his consumption of coffee which clearly is twice over that of any other companion. He mumbles something in his tongue about the darn coffe being too damn week this side of the border. When it is rime to ride again he imiates others and looks for tracks or signs of their target's passing.

Spoiler:

Spot Hidden (57%) roll: 1d100=56

Holy crud! Success with 1% margin. Should we check skills on our character sheets?

[Mr. Handy]

James rides at the head of the column again, the better to see what lies ahead, his rifle near to hand. For the first time in a while, he feels like he's in enemy territory, and he remains constantly alert.

[Papa Gateau]

You ride through morning and into early afternoon making good time. It's about this time that, as you crest a rise, that Mario and James see a lone rider following in your tracks - maybe 3 or 4 miles behind you. From this distance you are unable to make out any details.

[ghill]

Seeing something attract Mario and James attention Strachan stops his horse and takes a moment to get comfy in the sadle again, settles the big Walkers on his hips.

What have you chaps seen?

OOC:   I think the real life max distance you can make out an individual is just under two miles, so can they actually see a person or is it a matter of identifying sign of the person - ie dust cloud? Also are we still moving hard? Because if so can we assume the rider must know where we are?

[Papa Gateau]

OOC:   With your current elevation, looking back down they can make out what they believe to be a lone horseman. It would appear the horseman is following your tracks, you are making no effort to hide them and have been pushing at a canter/trot/walk/canter/trot/walk.