Chapter 5 - Prince Frederick's Town

[jemmus]

The band member arrive, improbably and almost incredibly (from the riders past experience with musicians) both early and sober. They introduce themselves with smiles and firm pumping up and down handshakes. A big red-faced man with a wide firm belly that makes his accordion look small runs through snatches of oompah favorites runs. A middle-sized man with a guitar plays major key chords and tightens up and slackens its string. And a small, balding man with a huge tuba wipes down its mouthpiece, prepares his lips and tongue, and plays a few exploratory (and somehow embarrassing to everyone). Sputter. Blatt! Oof. Whoomp!s.

The guests begin to arrive, promptly at 6:30 PM. Dr. and Frau Reiter. Wells Fargo’s Herr Nimitz and Frau Nimitz. Attorney Herr Holzfäller and Frau Holzfäller. Town Marshal Eichenmeuller, his two deputies, and their wives. The Gillespie County sheriff and his wife, and the deputy sheriff and his wife. And John Leissner and his family, save old Grandpa. And a friendly ranch hand named Franz Brunnr whom Gideon introduces as his friend and Kartenspieler Kämpfer. Y’all already know my other four gamblin friends, he says. They’re already here. Y'all can guess who they might be along the way. A silver dollar ta whoever can guess right. He winks.

Ingrid cheerfully greets the guests as they come in and efficiently seats them at tables in back and brings a tray with steins of beer. And politely asks for orders of coffee or iced tea. Only Frau Reiter places an order for a teetotaling beverage.

The town’s postmaster and his wife enter the dining room, looking a little sheepish and uncomfortable, and ask for a table at the front of the dining room. Ingrid starts to seat them, but they say in German what must be that first they will pay their respects to the townsmen in the back. Because that’s what they do before being seated. Then the Wells Fargo stable master and his wife come in and do the same thing. Then the same for the general store owner, the butcher, the blacksmith, the housewright, Voss the sauerkraut maker, his neighbor reluctant Boelcke, Herr and Frau Hoffer (original owners of Putz/Katze) and some other citizens that the riders have never noticed before do the same. Even the rather disagreeable gunsmith shows up, but without a date. Instead, he’s with two male friends his age. At last, old Mrs. Esterhazy (current possessor of Putz/Katze), bearing a basket of baked goods.

Ingrid cries, Oh my! We have never before had so many guests for dinner. She begins to take each table’s order, and for once has to use a notepad and pencil. The riders see that the uninvited diners don’t intend to freeload on their fare or infringe on their generosity. Rather, each couple or group orders separately from Ingrid’s spoken menu, sometimes inquiring about the prices. Some nod to the back tables, apparently if ordering some treat for them. Soon, pleasant conversation starts and grows to louder levels among the diners and the party guests.

The band’s tuba lets out a loud bass foghorn drone, the conversation stops, and all turn their heads to look at the little band. The big leader plays a little jingle on his accordion and booms out to the room (in Deutsch, of course), Good evening, almost all of Fredericksburg! We're The Handsome Playboys, well-known throughout south-central Gillespie County. Where their are almost 600 human beings. With over two cows per person, and over 500 flies per cow. Of all of them -- humans, cows and flies-- in 1873 five can speak English. It's good to see that you've all come to the Prinz Frederich tonight. But some of you may have forgotten to bring your old mamas and papas along. And pets. For instance, cats. The tuba player plays a pretty convincing, though pretty bass, meow. Mrs. Hoffer and old Mrs. Esterhazy give each other observable demonstrations of frosty cold shoulders. It's not too late, send for them! They will miss the first round and the first song tonight, but their will be many more to come! With plenty of uniquely fragrant Fredericksburg sauerkraut. Correction: There will still be almost 600 humans in south-central Gillespie County when the kitchen in the Prinz Frederich opens the jar. And no English-speakers.

Our thanks to our new robber-busting friends Mr. Doos, Dr. Crockett, Mr. Moore, the illustrious student of odds Mr. McLaury, and of course our very own young Mr. Andreas Larson. You have done good service to our little town. He raises his stein in a toast, as do all. Prost! All join the big past middle-aged man and raise their steins. Prost! To the riders first, then to one another.

And now, let the fun begin. A one ne, two, three, one, two, three.... The band breaks out in boisterous oompah music and smiles light up the place. Even Frau Reiter smiles for a moment. Then remembers herself and stops.
...
But... where is Andreas? And his dad, mom and family? The riders know that Andreas is naturally reticent and standoffish. That's what makes him so good at what he does. Noticing everything, while remaining hardly noticed himself. Able to patiently track sign for minutes and hours, without saying a word or asking for a comment. Gideon says, Ah hope ole Andreas didn't git shy on us and decide not ta ride up ta town. That would just about like that fella. Busy Ingrid stoops to whisper into Gideon's ear, smiles, and moves on. Gideon beams and says, Yep, that's a prize alright.

[Thumper]

DT tries to enjoy himself, enjoy the food and drink, and socialize...all the while wondering about Andreas. Does he need to make a ride out to the Larsen ranch tonight?

He keeps Yeller on a leash attached to a porch pole out back except when Ingrid feeds the dogs. He will occasionally hold him close while seated at the table. Good socialization for the pup.

**Edited **
As the band strikes up, DT will approach the Leissner daughter and ask her if she’d be so kind as to teach him to dance the Polka.

[Rex]

Charlie

Charlie tries to eat and enjoy himself, not drinking too much. He is not very familiar with social interactions like this and thus a little nervous.

[cybersavant]

Andreas and his tall horse lead the steer back south toward the ranch. After around three miles of riding, he sees three mounted Comanche warriors crest a little rise behind him.

Andreas Larson continues on his way, looking back every so often. When the three get within earshot, he'll call out in Comanche "Just returning to Fredericksburg with my wayward steer."

[ateno]

Doos will enjoy himself, travel around to everyone and say something to everyone and try to host, even though he cant speak German.

"Please everyone, tip the waitress and band! Enjoy yourself!"

Doos

[jemmus]

Andreas and his tall horse lead the steer back south toward the ranch. After around three miles of riding, he sees three mounted Comanche warriors crest a little rise behind him.

Andreas Larson continues on his way, looking back every so often. When the three get within earshot, he'll call out in Comanche "Just returning to Fredericksburg with my wayward steer."

Please roll for Linguistics.

[cybersavant]

[jemmus]

The three young Comanches make the sign for peace.

The one with the lance calls out in Comanche, You speak pretty good Comanche, Fredericksburg man. Another calls, Do you like Comanche girls? The third shouts, We'll trade you a Comanche girl for a blue-eyed girl. No, one beautiful Comanche girl for two blue-eyed girls! The young men laugh, wave good-bye, and ride back the way they came.

Andreas, his horse, and the recalcitrant roped steer get back to the ranch not long before the Sun sets. On the day of the party at the Prinz Fredrich, Andreas and his family get into their Sunday go to town clothes and hats. Andreas's sister and mother each seem to take forever to get ready. Father Lothar Larson looks at his watch and calls out, Wir kommen später! Beeilen Sie sich bitte. [We'll be late! Please hurry]. At last, everyone is ready to go, with comfortable time to spare for the drive to Fredericksburg.

A Larson family portrait from some years ago. Why is Andreas in a cadet's uniform? Only he himself may know.

But, just as they are hitching the horses to the wagon for ride into town, Andreas little sister Nina cries, Auch! Der Zaunkriecher hat den Zaun schon wieder überquert! Und wieder auf der Seite des Enchanted Rock Felsens! [Oh no! The Fence Crawler has crossed the fence again! And again on the Enchanted Rock side]. Andrreas and his younger brother have to change back into their work clothes, saddle and mount their horses, and intercept the wayward maverick and together corral him through the north gate and inside the great wire fenced pasture. And comb their hair and change into their town clothes again.

It's time to put that steer into the meat locker, Father Lothar mutters. Oh no, Papa! Nina says. Fence Crawler isn't bad, he's just smart. It makes him naughty. Because he's smarter than the rest. I couldn't bear to eat him, Papa.

Father says, Hmm. You're right, Nina. It may have been a mistake to castrate that bull calf. He might have sired some good strong calves. Or wild troublesome ones....
The next time he goes off to Enchanted Rock or somewhere else, we'll just let him go....
Reactions
[2d6]=8 No modifiers (Stature, known criminal, etc.) apply.
8 Friendly-NPC watches character.

[jemmus]

Andreas and his family enter the dining room of the Prinz Friedrich an hour late, much to DT's relief. Poor Herr and Frau Larson come in red in the face, but smiling and bustling waitress Ingrid greets them and takes them to their saved table among the hosts and their guests. Father Lothar's fellow cattlemen neighbors come to pay their respects and talk cattle business. As do their wives about neighbors talk with Frau Larson. Soon, the wives have have organized things to move to a separate table of their own and leave the husbands to the original. The oompah band is in full swing, knifes and forks clatter on plates, laughter fills the air, and waitress Ingrid is joyous and swinging back and forth between the tables and the kitchen. She arrives bearing big platters of sliced brisket, wursts, kraut, braised vegetables and potatoes and fresh loaves of bread faster than anyone can eat.

The night goes on, the bocks and lagers flow, and at some point the old gentlemen start to invite their wives onto the area in front of the band. The Handsome Playboys catch the drift, nod to one another, and silently agree to up the waltz tempo to Fredericskburg dance hall swing.

Dr. Reiter's nurse-wife Frau Reiter sees Army scout Charlie sitting alone at his table and takes a seat across from him. You are half Comanche, sir, no? I myself am not German, or Texan. I am frumm Poland, and my father's name was Sampeck. It's alright to feel alone, sir. Gut people sometimes feel dat vay. But not forever. Good night, sir.

She goes over to Gideon's table, which is also empty except for him. Gideon is all squared up and looking happy, but he's keeping his eyes on Ingrid as she moves between the tables. Frau Reiter takes a seat across the table from him and says over the laughing and the oompah, Hello, Mr. McLaughry. I understand you had to shoot your own brother who vas a murderer in a gunfight. I am sorry. If you vould like, come und cut flowers from my little flower garden fur your brother's grave. Before you leave Fredericksburg. She lays a hand on his shoulder. And at the sign of kindness and compassion, tears flow out of the gambler's eyes, his lower lip trembles, and he breaks down and weeps.

[Thumper]

DT stops dancing with the Leissner daughter and looks on as his friend grieves.

[Thumper]

DT stops dancing with the Leissner daughter and looks on as his friend grieves.

[jemmus]

Here we take stock of the party's stock, regroup, saddle up and ride. Toward wherever along the wide frontier the riders may decide on.

[Thumper]

Head back to Austin to sell horses, old revolvers, and talk to Mr Fox?

[Rex]

Charlie

"Yes, I often feel like an outsider, but not really alone Frau Reiter, but thank you for the thought."

[cybersavant]

Andreas Larson sits at the table with his family and looks on the proceedings around the room.

[jemmus]

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