Lechance

She'd already had several shifts standing guard in the "spider room" in the mayor's salon. That wasn't it's official name of course, but what she'd taken to calling it. She'd taken another look at the bits and pieces but couldn't make any more sense of them then she had the first time.

Leo straightened when she heard footsteps and moved away for the new occupant.

"Afternoon," she said.

[OOC notes: Players, please check ooc post here for more information. The ooc post will be updated as the thread progresses.]

They'd met in the Town Square shortly after 1.30pm.

When it was clear that every one was there, Jonas swung up onto his borrowed mount, called Digger near, and addressed the assembled folk from horseback.

"First off, may I jus' take the opportunity to tell you how grateful this town, and indeed myself and my team are for all your valuable help and support over this last while. Hopefully now we're actually getting somewhere, but I won't lie to you, this situation is still potentially very dangerous. And so I must urge you to practice extreme caution at every turn. Your safety is paramount above and beyond anything we may find. Stick together, no wanderin' off the path. Buddy up whenever you can, even if nature calls, beggin' your pardon. Deputy Charles has your names duly noted, and we'll be checking on folks along the way. Please be aware of everything around you. If you see something out of place, unusual tracks, items, sights, sounds, hell, even smells, please bring them to the attention of either myself, or Deputies Coleman or Charles."

He waited until he was sure everyone had absorbed the information so far before continuing. "Right, we're going to head up to the trail the patrol took and past their shelter from the other night, and up on up to the fissure to the co-ordinates that Sheriff Bowbuck left behind him when he left. If we encounter any strange weather on the way, everyone is to head for that shelter, is that understood?" 

The assembled patrol murmured their agreement. "Good, good. Right. I'll head up the column for now." He looked to his deputies. "Leo, can you take the back of the line, and Andrew, if you could ride out alongside as spotter? We'll be stopping for breaks along the way so that I can check on progress and where everyone is up to. First of these I suggest'll be just up from the shelter. There's a bit of a flat area just up beyond it. We'll stop there."

He looked around the folk gathered, "And I just pray that the good Lord'll be shinin' on us, and we'll find somethin' useful. Everyone got watches to hand?" He took his out of his waistcoat pocket, and checked it against the town clock. "Happen it's now 2pm. Worse comes to worse an' we get separated, everyone's to report back here afore 4.30pm. Any questions?" he finished, looking around. "Speak up now if so." 

His eyes scanned over those assembled to look for any hands, or people shouting out with questions.

Leo was still trying to wrap her brain around everything that happened. Of everything, she thought the tiny gears and leg that had been found were the most intriguing and the most mysterious. She couldn't remember when she'd seen work so small and so fine -- or if she ever had.

She'd checked in with the members of the neighborhood watch, checked on her horse and then wandered back through the town. She was off duty and just sort of meandering.

The announcement about the meeting had been cried every day for the past week; every citizen had been strongly encouraged to attend.

Since it had the possibility of running for a long time -- and to give it the appropriate sense of seriousness -- the meeting was held in the cathedral, one of the only places in LeChance that could seat most of the town. Leroy stood behind the lectern, quietly talking to Ms. Sheedy as the crowd gathered. He looked tired but determined.

He invited Jonas and his staff to sit at the front of the space with him, giving them a brief rundown of what he planned and giving them a chance to voice objections or suggestions before the idea was placed before the town. Others at the front of the hall included Father Marks, the judge, council members, a historian and the principal of the schools.

Finally, on the hour, Anastacia Mason, the town crier, stepped forward and called for all to be seated and settled. She read a few commonplace announcements before introducing Leroy and moving unobtrusively to the side.

Leroy stepped up, hands behind his back and took a breath as he ordered his thoughts.

( My fellow citizens... )

Leo had been doing what she could to gather information for the sheriff but reports were slow coming in. She'd taken to patrolling at night, haunting both the stables and the stockyards to see if she could spot whatever had attacked Jonas' animals.

It was morning now, just, and she had her hands wrapped around a strong cup of coffee as she sat on the steps of the office.

Jonas was rattled, and incredibly uneasy.

The main gathering hall had been decorated with swags of greens and candles, lending a soft, romantic glow to the space. Tables were scattered throughout the hall and along one side there was an elborate buffett spread. Musicians had set up unobstrusively next to the large space left open for dancing.

In one corner there was a large evergreen tree decorated with more candles, preserved flowers and fruits, strings of cranberries, small paper doilies, and ribbons and tied to tree branches. But the center of attraction was the yule log burning in the huge fireplace at the end of the hall.

Before the festivities began, Leroy made a short speech thanking the residents of LeChance for the hard work over many months, congratulating the newly married and affianced, wishing everyone happy holidays and set the party in motion.

Leo had finally bought herself a horse at the last livestock auction. Of course, she still had to buy all the things that went along with a horse, but for now, that didn't matter. She rode along the beach without a saddle or bridle, letting the mare find her own pace.

When she saw someone approaching from the opposite direction, she tugged lightly on the mare's mane and halted her.

"Evenin'," she called out.

Late in the afternoon, a small crowd gathered in a field to participate in the gathering of the final harvest of the season. They loaded it into a decorated horse-drawn wagon and followed it into town, singing songs and waving sheafs of hay.

More people followed along as the parade passed them by, leading them into the square that normally held the merchants but had been cleared earlier for the celebration. There were still a few booths set up but they'd been converted to homes for games. The growing crowd was invited to march to the cathedral for a short service or to stay at the square to help set up for a feast.

Lanterns were lit all around the buildings and the square, casting a warm glow. There was just the slightest nip in the air but that would be dispelled when the dancing started later. Enormous amounts of food were heaped on a banquet table and long tables were set with glittering china and strewn with bouquets of late-blooming flowers.

Leo may have looked like she was taking a leisurely stroll through the town, but she was actually making sure that everything was calm and secure. That didn't mean that she wasn't also taking an opportunity to look in a few store windows, many that had displays for the upcoming festival.

She tapped the heel of her boot against the sidewalk and contemplated a display of late season flowers and gourds.

"Evening," she said when someone joined her at the window.

Leo had finally had a chance to visit the town library. A dangerous thing, that. She could have spent hours slowly drifting through the aisles. As it was, she had quite a haul of books to tote the short distance across the street to the sheriff's office.

She wasn't on duty for awhile, but the porch at the office beckoned to her.

Tables had been dragged into Jonas' office and pushed together to help provide space for those invited to the meeting. Mrs Andrews had provided sandwiches and cakes, and her teenaged daughter was helping her in providing teas, coffees, and squashes as people arrived. His staff, including Deputies Andrew Charles and Ifan Jones, Mrs Andrews and her daughter, Ms Smith the administrative assistant, along with several chaperones from the Hotel, were milling around making light conversation with new arrivals.

Jonas waited until people had settled, and were all sat down around the tables. He stood up to address them all.

Wednesday daytime, and Jonas sends out personal telegraphs to the following people, either to their own residences, or addressed privately via the Hotel:
Santiago de la Vega
Simon Belgrave
Julian MacKallister
Benjamin Simoneaux
Daisuke Shimada
Missy Lee
Jonathon Stanton

The message reads:

'The Acting Sheriff of this town, Mr Jonas Wilder hereby invites you to an informal meeting to take place on this Sunday the 26th of October. The meeting will commence at 6pm in the Sheriff's Office. This meeting is to gather together a consultancy of sorts to discuss ongoing and current reports of unusual activity received by the Office.

Light refreshments will be available, and appropriate chaperones will also be in attendance.

Please feel free to bring along any persons you may feel will assist. Your help and assistance in these matters would be much appreciated.'

Jonas also talks to his staff, including new employee Leo Coleman, to inform them of the upcoming meeting, and to request their attendence also.

Leonora was still stiff from the train. She'd disembarked and asked the porter for directions to the sheriff's office. She showed up early in the evening, baggage in tow; it wasn't like she'd brought a whole lot with her anyway. The walk had done her good and her muscles had eased slightly. She'd sleep well tonight.

She knocked on the door frame then entered the outer office.

"Evenin'," she said. "Forgive the intrusion but I'm lookin' for the sheriff?"