With all the fuss about Ruby, the planned jail break, the magic and the dangers she posed, none really knew what she was doing back at her cabin after escaping and taking Bessie with her.

She tried to simply live there with all her kittens but the one she liked the most suddenly disappeared and Ruby felt the loss deeply. It took a while but getting past this sad period would take some time, so to redirect her thoughts, she planned the jail break of Steele Diamond and her girls.

In town, the latest edition of the Gold Pillars hit the street with the current gold bullion rates. Since the rumours and subsequent assay of the gold beneath Alister Clover's old home became public knowledge, people were scrambling for information. The rates were steep and based on speculation but it didn't stop the dozens of telegraphs to the markets back east for stocks.

Even 3Gun hinted at a substantial purchase, bringing down all kinds of rain on his head for his request. Derisive comments mixed with personal insults all a product of the gold seed planted in the minds of the residents. On top of the gold business, another controversy struck . . . the prospect of a bakery, its site and the cost of proceeding with the construction.

3Gun had been dead against it but time was marching on and the old west was growing up. Inside, he was opposed but realized that progress, if that's what a bakery represented, was going to take place then had better be onside. His one non-negotiable was that it could not be directly across from the saloon, declaring that some things were sacred.

It was Miss Darkly who held the biggest interest in opening this bakery and she was backed by two of the town's leading citizens, Ruechari, and editor of the newspaper, CrazyGoose. A formidable team. Meanwhile she still needed to get the hex removed from her uncle and was all set to begin tracking when the rain came. Useless to try in mud so she hit the saloon for a lemonade.

Another edition of the newspaper arrived with the news of Bessie's return, the prospect of the new bakery shop and a dead or alive wanted poster for Ruby, showing what she really might look like out of her old lady disguise. The one bright spot was the comic section . . . a knee slapper.

******

On the Ruby front, Ruechari had located Bessie and sent her home with a private note for CrazyGoose. She and Billy had also found Jasper, the arch enemy that first appeared with Ruby as a lost, cuddly little kitten.

She struck a deal with Jasper, who actually wanted to be just an ordinary cat, that she would find him a home or set him free to do as he wished if he helped catch Ruby and her more dangerous cat that helped her escape jail.

Billy seemed to be drifting away from Rue and she wasn't sure what the problem might be but Ruby was still top of mind and Billy would have to open up to her or wait. Jasper agreed finally and Billy, worried about the deal, told Rue that if she thought it was best, he would back her up.

******

Back in town, the gang was hit with more tragic news. The station master arrived at the saloon with a telegram for stannbear and was directed to the jail. He hurried across the street with the rest of the gang in tow. stannbear was surprised by the group bursting into the jail office and when he read the telegram about his mom back east, passing on, he saddled up Bounty and galloped off without a word.

Nobody knew if he would be back or whether they would ever hear from him again. He was going to be missed for sure.

******

Despite all the setbacks and upset, not only was progress marching on, so was time, and while it felt like it had sneaked up, in fact it had been expected and looked forward to. Christmas! Raven had turned the saloon into a winter wonderland with decorations and a great tree, Christmas drinks and imported muffins along with some left over jerky.

Time to celebrate and the doors were opened to the Gulch.

True to tradition, Chris 'Whip' Cracker drove the Christmas stage from Rickety straight into the middle of town and began doling out presents to the population. His grizzled beard and the special Santa hat gave the whole experience a jolly feeling.

He dragged another sack into the saloon and surprised the BG gang with their own gifts then joined them all in celebratory drinks. Checking his timepiece he pulled on his hat, waved goodbye and galloped the stage out of town and back to Rickety . . . he had a lot more stops to make.