Rictor stood there in awkward silence until Val finally piped up. He had been trying to decide how to explain their (mis)adventure to the boss man. Perhaps it was Jimmy's parting words ringing in his ears, but at long last he finally decided to just tell the truth.

"Well, boss, we went after the cattle like you asked and we found them, alright. We went after the goblins into a cave and that's where things started getting a little... odd. Even for me," he lets out an involuntary, nervous chuckle, fidgeting with his bowler hat in his hands.

"Anyhow, we find the goblins holed up with this crazy old conjurer who had befriended them and he sets a swarm of rats on us - bigger than the ones in the Big Apple, even. And then we heard a voice. A little girl's voice. And we couldn't just leave her in there, boss. It ain't Christi- it just wouldn't have been right to do that. So, long story longer, we took care of some dead fellas the old man must've magic'd up to guard the cells and freed the little girl from her cruel confinement."

He takes a breath. This is where the already far-fetched tale would start to sound downright unbelievable, but he was committed to the truth. Well, at least this one time. "Turns out that was little Annabelle, Jimmy's niece. After all they've been through they decided to go their own way. He said he was grateful for the job and all but kin comes first." At last the ghost of a lie. He purposefully omitted the part where Jimmy and Annabelle were headed for Old Bull; he didn't think Boss Bennett was a particularly vindictive man, but he didn't want him going after Jimmy and poor Annabelle, neither.

Val nods. “Annabell says her family was kilt. The old man set the killers to rest all by hisself and then took her.”

He takes his hat off and stares at the ground awhile. “Strange times.”

Ravoskan looks to his two companions and says quietly, "Seems strange to have two mysterious attacks like this so close together, don't you think?"

Rictor quietly seethes while Val tells tale of the one part of the story he couldn't quite bring himself to mention. He felt somehow responsible for all of the turbulent events of the past week or two. It was such a tangled web of happenstances and coincidences that he couldn't shake the feeling he and his well-meaning companions had someone set into motion a chain of events that lead them to this point, no closer to finding out who these killers were or who the strange old magician who kidnapped Annabelle was.

"Well we ain't simple, damn it! We know it's strange," he says more loudly and with more venom than he intended. He calms himself, smoothing his pomade-slicked black hair back before replacing his prized bowler back on his head gingerly so as not to disturb a single follicle. "I apologize for the outburst, friend. We're all shook up about this and Val and Keth and me are dead-dog tired after our trials and tribulations."

Flynn speaks up for the first time "Why don't you folks get freshened up, then we can tell you the strange goings on around the ranch." Next Flynn addresses the boss "Me, Will and Ravoskan were planning to take a look round the area this afternoon, see if we can't see none of the...creatures from last night. How does that sound to you?"

Boss Bennett looks at Flynn for a moment then says:

"You, the preacher, an' Bill just got off guard duty. Keth, Val, and Rictor just got back from a long haul that had some craziness going on with it. All six of you get some shuteye. Tomorrow morning I will have a job fer all 6 of ya, per Mr. Henry's orders. So, get some sleep and something to eat till then." Bennett says in a commanding voice. 

With that, the rest of the ranch hands take over the cattle drive and all of you are free to get some well-deserved sleep. 

Keth had been standing in the back as the group got reacquainted with the boss and the situation. He took a moment to appreciate the Union coat however and nodded to Ravoskan.

The mention of a beast or creature in the area piqued the native's interest though, "Seems like you have had your own little events. Let's get some rest and catch up, I will have Aihàm do a few rounds until the morning."

He put his fingers to his mouth and blew a loud piercing whistle then he steps to a nearby tree and kneels, going through a primitive ritual (Speak with Animals), few moments and a golden eagle perches in a nearby tree. Keth stands and speaks to the eagle in orc, "Dearest friend, while you hunt and play would you watch the lands for wrong beings? I will see you at sunrise and we will eat well."

"Pardon my French, sir, but screw the rest! I need a bath," Rictor says as he hurries over to where he knows there to be a washbasin and water pump for him to bathe in and clean his sodden, stinking clothes. He doesn't give Keth's ritual a second glance; he'd seen it often enough at this point and his own rituals tended to be a lot more unsavory.

Ravoskan nods to the Boss, "I am still a little tired, but there will be time enough after some rest to share our tales. My name is Ravoskan Krifinas, may the angel's bless our meeting."

Val finds a shady spot for a bit to sit alone before heading off to bed

Bill just stays quiet letting the newcomers speak and give there update. At the mention of them having some time before being needed tomorrow morning "We can all get to know each other over some beer and food in a bit if you want, or just wait until we are all working tomorrow."

Rictor washes up and goes off looking for Bill, eager to get a good meal and some halfway decent beer in his belly.

Flynn also follows Bill. "A beer would be lovely."

(Continuing)

You get cleaned up and make it to the mess hall, a small building with 4 large tables with benches. There are a few of the ranch hands finishing up and Cookie stands at the east side of the hall with 2 big kettles and a ladle in hand. He is more than happy to dish out the eggs from one kettle and beans with a little beef (or what he tells you is beef) from the other pot. The mention of beer starts him laughing and he continues for some time. 

"Beer!?", he says with much mirth. "Mr. Henry an' Boss would have my hide tacked to a board if I was serving beer." 

He laughs again.

"You greenhorns," he exclaims and laughs again. "Boss hired some doozies I say. Ain't no Beer and there won't be any. Mr. Henry don't pay for drunk cowboys he pays fer sober working cowboys. You won't be gettin' a beer unless you be the ones going to Old Bull tamorra' to pick up the supply order that's come in. There's coffee or you can go over the mountain stream and get ya a drink from there."

Cookie dishes out the next ladle and shakes his head. A slight chuckle escapes him and you can hear him say "Beer" in a low tone as you walk to sit down and eat.

Flynn laughs "I should think drunk cowboys would be mighty entertaining, but not much use for workin'. A coffee will be fine for me" He settles down, and tips his hat over his eyes.

Ravoskan would take his meal and pray quietly over it before looking to the new(old) people, "Is dinner an appropriate time to talk of monsters? Back home I would say not, but things are so much different here, I do no know."

Rictor scowls deeply and mutters something about teetotaling Bible-thumpers before taking a seat and tucking in to a proper meal for the first time in ages. 

Bill just sighs "Only takes one to ruin it for the rest of us." he says taking the food and a bit of coffee. He just sits down somewhere "Is there a better time to talk about monsters?" he asks taking a bite of his food.

Each of you sits down and enjoy the meal. As you start talking amongst yourselves you casually notice you are the only ones left in the chow hall so, your conversations will be private.

(not posting anything else here, allowing you to have your conversation without interference :D)

Ravoskan does his best to narrate their late night encounter, "Late last night, when all was still. We had been given a place to wait and watch for danger, when we heard the sounds of a horn ringing the alarm into the night sky. We hurried over, I had some difficulty with my pony, but Flynn here helped me get it back under control. We made it just in time to hear the last words of warning of poor Juan, 'Be careful it might still be out there'. We saw rustling in the tall grass and watched alertly to see if whatever foul creature slew our new friend, but it did not. By the time the others had arrived, we discovered Juan and the others to have been slashed to death by some unknown villainous creature. Speaking with Boss Bennett afterwards, we learned that several such attacks have happened lately, coinciding with sightings of a shadowy beast and strange meetings of Mister Henry and some of his family. We have decided to go forth, work permitting, and investigate this mystery and end this threat to the people, by the will of the angels. Will you join us?" 

(Performance, just for fun to see how well he does: 20)