"I don't doubt that for a moment, Elias. You would be at the top of the list, and it is long." Bradley said, with a touch of a smile. "What is perplexing to me is that there is no land office in town that would handle such transactions. Dealing with a banker can be throwing away money for his commission on the property."
"Agreed, Elias, and swindler or not, he knows you, so perhaps with a letter from you requesting a list of lots, or, maybe there is only a map showing vacant sections, plots, or parcels, or which would be better, infinitely better for what we have in mind, buying up as nedmuch land as possible," Carson explained. "I seriously doubt that any land to the four points of the compass has been mapped. A simple check at the clerks office should reveal what is owned and what is not. Also, what is mapped out in any of the areas I have mentioned. A note authorizing me to act on your behalf would allow me to see such maps as are available."
"I will do that, and maybe we can shut down anyone from getting in ahead of us." Elias said. "\To the south of town is where I believe the well to do will want to live, though to the north? Fine country all around us."
Next on the list was Addy Chappel. Being a one-room school, every child knew every other child, so when he saw Weedy in the front of the Chappel's cottage, he grinned and picked up his pace a little faster.
"Hey, Weedy! Yer Maw to home?" He called out, "Got a message for her about the Founders Day thing, she's wanted up there to the newspaper office for a meetin' about it."
He caught up to where Weedy was, "Guess there's news about it. Did'ja know Marshal Guyert wired the Chinese in San Francisco about fireworks? Real sky rockets an' all sorts'a stuff like that. Gonna be a big deal fer sure!"
"Yes, of course, my apologies." Speed offered. "But when you have time, stop by the office, lest you're riding out after you do what's necessary." The man interested him; he saw something that just might benefit Kalispell. Be it a deputy in town or maybe the County Sheriff. There was a strong sense of justice in what the man believed, and the least he could do was talk with this fellow and offer it to him.
If the man took the job with him, then it would be night work, which, before Mister Boyd's nocturnal forays, had been a quiet job for the most part. He would have to wait and see if Shintaro Takahashi was even considering settling there or not, but to ask would do no harm.
"Passionate isn't exactly what I would call it but it does serve a purpose. It will stop Ben from pursuing Miss Bowen...at least for now."
Arabella just shook her head. "Well, don't let him find out you're trying to stop 'em sparkin'!" she advised. "That'll make him crave the forbidden fruit even more!"
And after her on stage antics as Mother Eve, Arabella should know all about forbidden fruit!
Looking at the watch she carried in her skirt pocket, she took a deep breath and spoke in a loud voice, "Everybody, back to work. I want everyone involved in the cave scene to take their places."
Arabella sighed and went off to stand in the wings, singing Come, Where My Love Lies Dreaming to herself in her trilling soprano voice .
As he was leaving the house Shintaro spotted the Marshal as he wrapped up dispersing the crowd. He paused when the Marshal spotted him and came his way.
"You are most kind to offer," Shintaro responds with a slight blow. "But now isn't the best time. With my wife's murder avenged, there are things I need to tend to ensure her spirit can rest."
"The hard part might be getting the chance to interview the elusive Mister Steelgrave." Phin said, "Going out to the Everegreen might not be the healthiest tack to take. But then catching him in town is nigh onto impossible, he's here so seldom."
"I don't think he would do anything to harm you. He would know that we here in town would know that you had gone out there. Besides, you want an interview with him, and he likes to be the center of attention, and an interview in the paper would go to a lot of people." Leah told him, "And, it is an opportunity for him to make himself look good to all of your readers. What do you think, Mason? I mean, I believe that it would be safe enough."
As for the what to ask Isaiah hardly even knew what to say. "No ma'm, not really. I'm suppos'n you will teach him the basics, readin', writin', maybe some history?" He asked with a raised brow. Honestly to him the reading and writing were the most important, anything else was just a cherry on top.
Kate smiled, "Yes the basics are important things to learn. Perhaps after Josh has settled in, we can find out what else he likes."
She looked at the clock on the wall, and stood up, "If you are inclined to, we can discuss this matter at another time but for now, it's time for school start." Picking up the school bell, she continued, "It's been nice to meet you Mister Chappel and you are more than welcome to stay for a little while to make sure Josh is alright."
@ [MD]
@ [Javia
"Three!" and Justus heaved, his effort, along with Constance's, caused the rocks to shift, and all in a few short instants, the baby moose's foot came free, Justus pushed up with his shoulder, baby scrambled away, Justus slipped on the same algae that Constance had earlier, and, arms flailing, he fell backward, only just catching a glimpse of Baby Moose running off into the trees beside Mama Moose, before water washed over his head.
In a heartbeat, he sat up, shaking water from his eyes, looking around frantically. "Constance!"
On his back and staring at the ceiling, Priest didn't realize his predicament.
"Come along. Let's get this over with," he grumped.
Flo and her sister Pat had, at one point in their lives, had to take care of their invalid Grandfather, and the girl was more than capable of getting a man undressed and into his nightshirt. She overtly averted her gaze, of course, when his 'kidney prodder' was exposed, but her peripheral vision told her that the man, who must have only actually been in his early 50s, was not wanting in the wedding night department.
Yes, take away the stove-pipe hat and the spectacles, ignore the hair, white with worry (or an-ill spent youth) and Mr Priest was not as decrepit as one first assumed. The next thing that happened proved his virility was still, if not rampant, then a force in his life.
Flo stooped down to pick up the fallen Bible and noticed that a photograph had fallen out. Once she had goggled at it for a second or two, mouth gaping, she recovered her wits enough to bounce to the bed and sit beside him, showing him her find.
"Oh, Mister Priest, what a devout bookmark you have... it is a portrait of Pharoah's Daughter, is it not, bathing in the Nile just before finding Moses in the Bullrushes?" She had never seen such a portrait before in her life, but she flattered herself that her own derriere was as plump and shapely as the model in the carte de visite image.
"Yeah, just lemme..." Shifting around, Justus squatted down behind the toddler so that his shoulder was under its bottom. "I'm gonna try an' give him a boost once he's free."
Just as he was explaining his plan, wouldn't you know, she placed one foot on the wrong rock, green stuff on it slippery or something, and suddenly she fell backward, landing with a big splash into the cold water. Alright so now she was completely soaked! Just grand! Muttering darkly, she scrambled back on her feet, everything dripping including her drenched hair.
"I'm fine! Nothing hurt but my pride," she assured him, not forgetting the true focus here, save the moose, "Go on!"
"All right, here's th' plan. You grab th' rock there, an' I'll get it here, on three we heave, an' I'll boost Matilda up," he instructed. "Just keep yer head down, an' turn yer face away in case she kicks."
"Hummppff, maybe she'd kick some good sense into me," Constance grumbled but no less determined to succeed in this good deed. She bent down and positioned herself as directed then looked to him.
He took a breath. "Ya ready? One...two...three!"
On 'three' she gave it her best with a big grunt.