Leah wasted no time getting her shawl and an appropriate hat and started for the boarding house, just a couple of streets over. None of this made any sense to her, the threats from Dutch, the Army in town, and Guyer supposedly requesting troops be stationed in the town. That just did not sound like him at all.
In front of the apothecary, the latest edition of the Union could be found stacked on a box with a lead weight on them, and a cup half full of pennies. She fished out two cents and took a copy appalled at the headline "MARSHAL LAW?" emblazoned in black ink. She stopped and read the article asking, "IS IT POSSIBLE?". It contained no evidence that any of this was an actual possibility, in fact, it dodged any inference that in fact, this is what might happen. What was wrong with McVay?
She went up to the door of the boarding house a rapped firmly on the door.
Javia
"THERE'S SOMEBODY AT THE DOOR!!!"
Luckily it was Jemima Wigfall that answered the sonorous summons: Mrs Wigfall would have presented a veritable brick wall to the sultry siren attempting to get to her beloved guest Lieutenant Greene, and Hector would have provided an equally impassible morass, a swamp of sticky sycophantic sentimental simpering.
No, Jemima Wigfall was the best bet out of the three, although she wasn't exactly that welcoming.
"It's Miss Steelgrave!" Jemima said flatly, just in case Miss Steelgrave had forgotten who she was. The bovine girl looked around and behind the svelte rich girl, hoping that her attractive bodyguard, Mister Bannister, might be following on behind; but she had to bite down her disappointment that he wasn't.
"You'd better come in, I suppose." she said in that same deadpan voice that never lowered itself to register emotion, no matter what the circumstances. "Ma isn't in, who'd you want to see?" she asked as she led the way to the front parlour.
Stepping inside she said, "Miss Wgfall, good morning," Replying to Jemima Wigfall's greeting, and it was about what she expected, glad however that it had not been Missus Mary Wigfall who could prove to be difficult.
"I am here to see Lieutenant Greene on business, important business." She stated, "If you have seen the latest Union, then you will understand the reason for my visit." It was her hope that she had seen the newspaper and inference of Martial Law being declared in Kalispell. And once she was finished with the Lieutenant, she would be on to see Town Marshal Guyer for his side of this tale. It did not sound like him, but then again, one never knew.
"Er, would you fellers mind awfully standing to attention?"
Stepping inside she said, "Miss Wigfall, good morning," Replying to Jemima Wigfall's greeting, and it was about what she expected, glad however that it had not been Missus Mary Wigfall who could prove to be difficult.
Jemima's mother had very strict rules about guests receiving visitors; or rather, about them not receiving them! But there was something regal about the spoiled, headstrong little rich girl that made the more plebian Jemima fall back and even commit a clumsy sort of curtsey. It was probably Arabella's fault (most things were, Jemima reckoned) - every time she was with Jemima and saw Miss Steelgrave on the street, Arabella would whisper in hushed tones "Oh look - it's the Queen of Sheba!"
"I am here to see Lieutenant Greene on business, important business." She stated, "If you have seen the latest Union, then you will understand the reason for my visit." It was her hope that she had seen the newspaper and inference of Martial Law being declared in Kalispell. And once she was finished with the Lieutenant, she would be on to see Town Marshal Guyer for his side of this tale. It did not sound like him, but then again, one never knew.
The newspaper was there, but Jemima was far too busy with cleaning duties to sit around reading it, so she just replied simply "I'll get the Lieutenant. Have a seat."
Jemima went to the bottom of the stairs, but decided it wasn't quite right to just shout him, like she would her Ma or Brother, so she ran up the stairs with a thumping noise and could be heard from the parlour knocking on a door and announcing "Lieutenant Greene, come quick, Miss Steelgrave's here on important business!!" echoing the girl's words to her. "Something's up with the newspaper!" she added.
Thump Thump Thump! Back down the stairs she came, and into the parlour.
"He'll be down directly, Miss Steelgrave. Can I get you anything while you wait? Tea? Coffee? Cordial? Cake? Cookies? Bread and Jelly?" she asked and threw in another grotesque attempt at a curtsy, just for good measure.
Soon a lighter, but more uneven step sounded on the stairs and a handsome young officer, capless and leaning on a stick was framed in the parlour doorframe.
"Miss Steelgrave, I presume." he gave a slight bow "To what do I owe the honour of this very welcome visit?"
"Lieutenant, if you have read the latest edition of the Union you will understand that there is some serious concern about a decree of Martial Law in town." She began, "I understand that Marshal Guyer has made some request of the Army for something. I would like to know what he may have requested rather than joining in the doom-sayers that soon the Army will be patrolling the streets."
Her demeanor had changed the slightest bit as she spoke. It angered her, as it would most everyone else in town, to think that there would be curfews, and soldiers on the street to enforce whatever restrictions might be placed on them under the mandate. "The people of Kalispell will not stand for a military takeover of Kalispell, I can assure you of that. And if this is his answer to protecting the hospital construction he is way off base!"
"Er, would you fellers mind awfully standing to attention?"
"Lieutenant, if you have read the latest edition of the Union you will understand that there is some serious concern about a decree of Martial Law in town."
"Martial... what?!" Joseph was momentarily confused. The last time martial law had been declared in the United States was five years ago, and with good reason: it was in the aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire when Phil Sheridan was put in charge of the situation for a few days to ensure civil order was maintained and no looting took place. This was hardly that kind of situation. In fact, it was barely a 'situation' at all, so far.
She began, "I understand that Marshal Guyer has made some request of the Army for something. I would like to know what he may have requested rather than joining in the doom-sayers that soon the Army will be patrolling the streets."
"I believe Marshal Guyer did come to visit with Colonel Wellington, but I was not privy to that conversation I'm afraid Miss Steelgrave. I'm just a lowly Lieutenant who obeys the orders given to him and doesn't discuss them with civilians." he explained evenly. He thought the whole plan was a bunch of nonsense, but he wasn't about to say that and it getting back to Captain Barlow that he had been bad mouthing the Colonel or casting aspersions upon his military genius.
Her demeanor had changed the slightest bit as she spoke. It angered her, as it would most everyone else in town, to think that there would be curfews, and soldiers on the street to enforce whatever restrictions might be placed on them under the mandate. "The people of Kalispell will not stand for a military takeover of Kalispell, I can assure you of that. And if this is his answer to protecting the hospital construction he is way off base!"
"Miss Steelgrave, Martial Law cannot be imposed other than by President Grant or the Territorial Governor and then only in extremis. The building or otherwise of your hospital is not important enough to warrant it, and Colonel Wellington does not have the authority to do it. You've lived out West all your life haven't you, Miss Steelgrave. I would have thought in that time you would have learnt to take the loud headlines of local newspapers with more than a pinch of salt." He wasn't unfriendly, but he was firm.
"Yes Lieutenant I have spent most of my life out here, but not all. The idea of Marshal Law or anything close to that leaves a foul taste in my mouth, and I do understand what it requires for the law to be imposed. Your presence here in Kalispell is somewhat suspect after the headline and accompanying story. And yes, I am well aware of the lengths editors are willing to go to in order to sell papers."She explained, none too pleasantly. Which had not been her initial plan.
"It is your presence here that is most suspect in light of the headline." She retorted, "You will excuse my own demeanor, sir, it is just that I have to deal with one maniac, my father, and I do not look forward to having to deal with another." That caused her to pause. "I'm sorry Lieutenant, I realize that you would not have all the answers to this, but certainly sir, you would realize the combination of the paper and your presence here will raise suspicions."
"Er, would you fellers mind awfully standing to attention?"
"Yes Lieutenant I have spent most of my life out here, but not all. The idea of Marshal Law or anything close to that leaves a foul taste in my mouth, and I do understand what it requires for the law to be imposed. Your presence here in Kalispell is somewhat suspect after the headline and accompanying story. And yes, I am well aware of the lengths editors are willing to go to in order to sell papers." She explained, none too pleasantly. Which had not been her initial plan.
Greene contented himself with a shrug. "Well, if an officer on sick leave with to a wound sustained in a fight with renegade band of Indians wanting to stay in comfortable surroundings, with decent doctor nearby, instead of a rough wooden fort is suspicious to you, then you've obviously never been shot in the leg... er, Ma'am." he said, somewhat disingenuously. "I am sorry that you find the presence of Army men in town so distasteful, Miss Steelgrave", he added, turning it back on her.
"It is your presence here that is most suspect in light of the headline." She retorted, "You will excuse my own demeanor, sir, it is just that I have to deal with one maniac, my father, and I do not look forward to having to deal with another."
"Maniac? Huh, well, I've never been called that before!" Joseph replied, assuming that she meant him.
That caused her to pause. "I'm sorry Lieutenant, I realize that you would not have all the answers to this, but certainly sir, you would realize the combination of the paper and your presence here will raise suspicions."
"Are you suspicious of me, Miss Steelgrave... really?" he asked, looking at her with those innocent blue eyes and wincing slightly as he moved his leg.
"Lieutenant, I am suspicious of everyone anymore, I do not know who I can trust and who I cannot. Your uniform says I should be able to trust you, certainly. And with a wound, recovering in this place makes some sense. I must apologize to you, Mister Greene, for this visit. No doubt I have misjudged you and your reason for being here. Things are just so uncertain at this point that I have overreacted." She admitted openly, "Perhaps we might start over at a more convenient time, as your recovery progresses."
Somehow, Leah had fallen suspect of more than just Lieutenant Green and McVay's headline. After the visit from Dutch and the others from the ranch, she was more than just concerned, she needed to get a grip on herself, this was embarrassing and totally not Leah Steegrave. It had been a chance to vent on some poor wounded officer simply trying to recover and then return to duty, or so it seemed.
"I should be going, Lieutenant. Again, I apologize for my comments and accusations."
"Er, would you fellers mind awfully standing to attention?"
"Lieutenant, I am suspicious of everyone anymore, I do not know who I can trust and who I cannot. Your uniform says I should be able to trust you, certainly. And with a wound, recovering in this place makes some sense. I must apologize to you, Mister Greene, for this visit. No doubt I have misjudged you and your reason for being here. Things are just so uncertain at this point that I have overreacted." She admitted openly, "Perhaps we might start over at a more convenient time, as your recovery progresses."
"No apologies necessary, Ma'am, your concerns, though unfounded, are quite understandable. An invalid always welcomes visitors, Miss Steelgrave, especially charming and beautiful ones." he said.
"I should be going, Lieutenant. Again, I apologize for my comments and accusations."
"Please, let us say no more about it..." cooed Green as he struggled to his feet with the look of grim determination suitable for a man trying not to cry out against the pain.
Hobbling on his stick to the parlour door, he opened it and there was Jemima outside.
"Oh, er, Miss Steelgrave is just leaving" he told her.
Jemima committed one of he clumsy curtseys for the visiting 'Ranch Royalty' and scurried, bowing and scraping, to the front door to open that for the attractive young woman.