The Reveal

Opening night, no mishaps to be found

Smiles, laughter, and joy all around

Jacob saved Rue a seat in the front row

But he found it empty right after the show

He was hoping to get another date

To try again to set it all straight

He decided to try the hotel

But the crowd had not yet dispelled

Mr. Lewis came over wearing a grin

"Full house tonight Jake. That ad sure brought them in!"

Mr. Lewis then shook his hand

"I knew I could count on you as my right-hand man."

"No thank you, sir, for giving me this chance."

"I wish Katherine wasn't so insistent on going to France."

Jacob chuckled and did grin

"Once your wife gets an idea, sir, she won't let it end."

"Yes, or so I have heard.

But going to Paris for dresses seems absurd."

"I am sure she will look stunning."

"I love my wife, but that woman sure is cunning."

Mr. Lewis had a fond smile.

"I trust you, Jake, to run things as I'll be gone a while."

Jacob nodded his head with his face set

"You can count on me sir without regret."

"I want you to ride to the next town.

Run this ad in their paper to bring them around."

He handed Jacob a copy of the print

"I'll ride at first light. Right now I'm spent."

Mr. Lewis was in agreement

He again congratulated Jake on his full house achievement.

To see the ad, he hadn't yet got the chance

Jacob opened the Golden Pillar and gave it a glance.

Something in the paper caught his eye

It seemed the town was saying goodbye.

A memorial to a woman named Lou

It even included her photograph too.

Jacob felt his chest grow tight

No this couldn't be possible, this couldn't be right!

He gazed at the face on the front page

His heart began to pound against his ribcage.

"Jake, did I do alright tonight?

I don't think I got my last flip just right."

Josie was coming over, eating some eared corn

But frowned when she saw her brother's face,

He looked so forlorn.

"Jake, whatever is the matter?

I've heard a lot of chit chatter."

"Josie, what are you on about?

I need to go, I've got something to sort out."

Jacob began to quickly walk away,

"That Indian gal left you high and dry," he heard Josie say.

Jacob didn't have the time right now

He had to get answers somehow.

He started across the tent to walkout

When he noticed a newspaper lady walking about.

She seemed to be talking to Tiny Tim, 

taking notes and interviewing him.

Jacob marched up to her.

Tapped her on the shoulder and said, "Excuse me!"

Annie gave him a withering look,

"You're intrusion is quite rude in my book!"

He pointed to the photo of Lou

"Tell me all you can about this woman, will you?"

"Can't you see I'm in the middle of an interview?"

Jacob's face was red indeed

"Tell me how long she lived in BG!?"

Annie shrugged, "Not sure a year or two?

Look if you don't mind I've got work to do."

Jacob stopped to ponder

How did she die I wonder?

"Look if you want information on Lou,

More than half this town she knew.

Brody, Petra, Buck, Billy, even CG too.

Any of them could fill you in on, Lou."

Jacob looked angry and in distress

"I need to know now! How did she die?! Tell me the rest!"

"Jake, what has gotten into you?

You usually don't treat ladies so rude!"

Jacob looked at Tiny Tim

This was something he couldn't tell his old friend.

At least not until he knew more

He apologized and headed for the door.

He went to CG's office to find what she knew.

If she could fill in the gaps about, Lou.

But she didn't seem to around

The office was empty no one found.

He found himself on the brink.

He stormed into the casino, wanting a drink.

He asked a bellhop about Rue

But the man had no clue.

Frustrated, the bar called to him

He ordered a double whiskey, followed by a shot of gin.

He welcomed the burn, to numb the pain

To mute the thoughts inside his brain.

He quickly ordered another double,

The bartender said, he didn't want no trouble.

Jacob wiped his mouth on his sleeve

Waited to feel the pain relieved.

He kept seeing her face in his head

Could it be true, was Lou really dead?

The bartender gave him another round,

Warned him to slow down.

But Jake planned to drink

Until he could no longer think.

A man began to laugh very loud

It grated on Jake's nerves and he spun around.

"Hey you, shut your big trap!

No one wants to listen to that!"

The smile fell off the big man's face

"Who are you? I'll put you in your place!"

Jacob laughed and stood tall

"You're welcome to try.

The bigger they are, the harder they fall!"

"No fighting in here I must insist.

Take it outside if you both persist!"

The bartender didn't look impressed

Perhaps he had a gun beneath his vest.

The big man came closer, sized him up with a grin

"I'll teach you a lesson boy," he swung at Jacob's chin.

Too many shots made Jake slow

He was unable to duck the blow.

He tasted the blood, welcomed the pain

Then let his blows reign.

He hit the big man in the gut, then jaw

The man pushed him into the wall.

The bartender's yells fell on deaf ears

Especially over all the patrons' cheers.

Rowdy, drunk men encouraging the fight

Jacob barely felt the blows and fought back with all his might.

Both men were stubborn and bleeding

But neither was up for conceding.

At least until Jacob heard his name

Turned and saw Rue, then he felt shame.

Ruechari stood with hands on her hips

And she looked oh so pissed.

Jacob took in the state of the bar

The broken table, chairs scattered afar.

He looked at Rue who gave an angry shout

And that was when the big man laid him out.

Jacob saw stars as he laid on the floor

The big man came back for more.

A kick to Jacob's ribs before Ronan interceded

Pulled the man off, Jake was defeated.

Defeated in more ways than one,

Then the pain started to come.

"Jacob, why did you tear apart my bar?

Tell me. Why would you take it this far?"

Jacob spat blood on the ground,

Sat up slowly with a groaning sound.

He knew the explanation was not to be found

He had let Ruechari down.

Rue would not forgive him for this,

He wished he could give her one last kiss.

As he got up, the room began to spin

"This outta cover the damages. You won't see me again."

He threw money on the table and limped towards the door

But Rue grabbed his shoulder "Not one step more!"

"Ruechari, please let me go.

I messed everything up, I know!"

"No explanation or apology?

You just gonna walk out on me?"

"Ruechari , you made it very clear.

I have no place in your life, I'm not wanted here."

Rue let his shoulder go

"Then why did you reserve me a seat at the show?"

Ronan came over, grabbed him by the sleeve.

"You've outstayed your welcome. Now leave."

Rue turned her glare on him instead.

"I can handle this. In fact, I'm going to give Jacob a bed."

Both men didn't seem to like the plan,

But Ruechari took a stand.

"Jacob, I am very, very angry with you.

But your in no condition to go anywhere," argued Rue.

"You need to sleep off the spirits

And your wounds need tending too."

She left Ronan to clean up the mess

Dragged Jacob up the stairs, ignoring his protest.

Jacob had tried to get Rue all alone into a room

But now he was only full of gloom.

Something was definitely wrong with him.

He no longer tried his pick up lines or that grin.

Jacob was quiet, this was unlike him

He only winced as she cleaned up the cut on his chin.

Ruechari cleaned the wound on his face

There was something in his eyes, she just couldn't place.

She grabbed onto his hands

And his attention she demands.

"Jacob, tell me what's troubling you."

"I wish I could, but I can't, Rue."

He refused to look her in the eye

He looked like he was about to cry.

Rue didn't believe it was just the alcohol to blame

She touched his cheek softly and said his name.

He looked at her and she could see

Jacob's walls were crumbling.

"It's not fair. We came into town.

Just after she was laid in the ground."

A tear rolled down his cheek

Rue could sense he had more to speak.

She waited quietly, held his hand

Trying to understand.

"She hated her name. Insisted we call her Lou.

But Mother said it was a boy's name and never approved.

Tom once put a snake in her bed.

He expected her to scream, but found her petting it instead."

A ghost of a smile touched his lips.

"Jacob, help me make sense of this."

Jacob handed a crumpled paper to Rue

He watched her read the article too.

"Lou was born a couple of years before me.

On our family farm in Tennessee."

"It's been ten years since I last saw my sister's face.

Now I find I'm just a little too late..."