Katherine Bowen Wrote on February 24, 2019
Kate sat staring at the opposite side of the coach's interior. She didn't really want to look outside to watch the other two pick up the bodies. If someone had told her that morning that before she would be involved in hold-up before she reached Kalispell, she would have not paid much heed. It was true that life would be a little bit harder out that it had been in Avoca, but she had somehow expected it to be a bit more civilised then it really was.
The shock of being nearly molested was beginning to wear off and instead of wanting to head back east, as most women would, she was determined to stick with decision. It had been her choice to come out here and any naive notions she had had, were now gone. Her father had drummed it into her that when she made a commitment, she should carry it out, no matter what. There would be some tough times ahead but through God's grace she would make it.
Knowing that it would still take a little bit more time to get over what had just happened, she knew that she would have to compose herself so that she would be presentable and in control when she met the school board. Later on, when she was alone, she would have to time to cry and fully process the day's happenings.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Adelaide Chappel Wrote on March 1, 2019
“Cheated the hangman.” He spat. “I’ll get ‘em loaded on their horses and ride on in with you. Doubt there’ll be anymore trouble, but best I explain this to yer Marshal. You got one yet, or is Hannah Cory still holdin’ down the fort?” He paused.
"Mostly Hannah handles things," Addy answered, "Marshal Cory comes by now an' then, but he's gettin' a mite slow now." She shrugged. "Things are taken care of, that's sure." She certainly didn't want Steelgrave getting the idea that they needed new law in Kalispell, even if they did. But what they didn't need was more Steelegrave corruption.
“I can tell you that there’s paper on all three, not sure what the reward might be, but there’s some for sure. Never knew about his girl or the child, of course, we weren’t exactly on talking terms. Sad thing for the both of them. Their rigs, saddles and horses’ll bring good money, except for the one Kathleen may want. And part of the bounty is rightfully hers.” He smiled. “Best get to it.”
"Good, good." Addy gave him a nod then climbed onto the seat and gathered the lines. "Someone might wanna talk to th' nice lady there," she suggested, "she been through a lot, showed mettle, but i don't think she ever did imagine that she'd hafta shoot a man." Even with the war behind her, and a rough life under her belt, Addy hated shooting people, even if they deserved it!
Case Steelgrave Wrote on March 1, 2019
With the bodies loaded, their horses tied onto the coach, he mounted up and walked his animal next to the coach. “Miss Bowen,” Case began, “I’d hate for you to think that this how it’s going to be out here. That’s simply not true.”
He smiled. But I’d say as Addy pointed out, you got mettle enough. You’ll do just fine out here, and know this, Montana has a lot of friendly, upstanding folks who’ll appreciate a woman such as yourself being in their midst.” He was also well aware that once she settled in talk of the Steelgraves would reach her, especially the one they considered the outlaw Marshal of Whitefish.
Katherine Bowen Wrote on March 3, 2019
Kate smiled at the Sheriff, "Thank you."
She tried to say something else but that was all she could muster up at this point in time as she still needed time to prepare herself. Knowing that when she arrived in Kalispell, folks would be expecting a calm and confident woman to step out the stage. The last thing she wanted people to see was her face ruined by tears.
Taking a deep breath, she smiled apologetically at the Sheriff, "I'm sorry, but it's going to take me a little time to go over what just happened here. I knew things like this still goes on out here...I just didn't expect it so soon. I will be better prepared for the next time."
She turned her face back to look out the other side as she waited for the stage to pull out.
Case Steelgrave Wrote on March 4, 2019
Taking a deep breath, she smiled apologetically at the Sheriff, "I'm sorry, but it's going to take me a little time to go over what just happened here. I knew things like this still goes on out here...I just didn't expect it so soon. I will be better prepared for the next time."
‘Better prepared?’ He thought. Who is really prepared for that sort of situation? Surely he was, but then again, that was his nature. And yes, most men and a goodly number of western women were instinctively prepared for the violence that could happen at any given time, but a woman from the east? “Yes Ma’am.” There was more he wanted to say but just didn’t. It was clear that she was dealing with what had happened.
She turned her face back to look out the other side as she waited for the stage to pull out.
“Let ‘er rip Addy!” Case shouted up to the driver. Time was wasting and he needed to get back to Whitefish when this business was concluded. He had his own outlawry to conduct, which caused him to smile, knowing he was no better than the men draped over their saddles.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Adelaide Chappel Wrote on March 7, 2019
“Let ‘er rip Addy!”
"All right, sounds smart!" Clicking to the horses, she got them to pick up to a brisk trot, a pace they could sustain for a long distance, and by dusk they were pulling into Kalispell. "Marshal, ya wanna head over to th' sheriff's office an' I'll take care'a th' lady?" That way, the bodies would be out of sight when Kathleen stepped out of the stage. "I'll drive her on back of th' stables, outta sight."
As it was, they had started to draw a crowd due to the bodies, and Kathleen didn't need to be associated with this.
Case Steelgrave Wrote on March 7, 2019
Case nodded dropped back and untied the outlaw mounts from the coach as a crowd began to form.
"Hey! That's Case Steelegrave!" One said. "Whitefish Marshal."
"What in tarnation 'er you adoin' in Kalispell with the dead men?" Another asked as murmurs spread through the crowd.
"Move 'em out, Addy." Case shouted, wanting Katherine away from the scene. He wheeled his horse to face the crowd. "Tried to hold up the coach and wanted to make a fight of it with Addy there. Not my jurisdiction, but I am a law officer and did my duty. Now if you'll excuse me, got to deliver these to the Sheriff before they turn ripe." And with that, he wheeled his horse and trotted to the Sheriff's office. There was a lamp in the window, so he dismounted and stepped up on the boardwalk making the door in one long step opening the door as he came to it.
"Deputy." He greeted. "There was an attempt on the stage."
The commotion outside had already alerted Hannah and she was on her way to the door with her rifle in hand when it opened and Case Steelgrave stepped inside. She raised her eyebrows at his announcement, "I probably know the answer to this since you are here, Marshal," Hannah said dryly. "But, was anyone hurt? Addy okay?"
Pronto Pike Wrote on March 7, 2019
One of those in the crowd on the boardwalk watching the scene develop drink in hand was Pronto Pike, who recognized the man and his look from the day he'd stopped in Whitefish.
He watched how the man handled himself with the ones that spoke and the ones that were about to. Professional. every move calculated. See what was where and adjusting to it, traits of both law and outlaw.
There was a tug on his shirt sleeve. "Mister Pike? Barnabus Pike?" He asked a paper clutched in his tightly in his hand.
"Reckon that'd be me."
"Then this came for you." The boy said thrusting the paper at him.
Pike took the paper, changed it between to fingers of his drink hand while he dug out a coin, taking a bit of time to get the right one. Here you go, son. Appreciate the service, and boy, that is for you, no one else, understand?"
The boy took the four-bit piece, his eye as big as the half dollar. "ye-yes Sir! Thank you, sir." And he was off like a shot.
Pronto watched him go, a good thing to be a boy, on one helping out by working. His Mama will be proud. Then, without ceremony, Pike switched the telegram to his free hand and stepped closer to the light pouring out of a nearby window to read it. he looked up, turned and focused on the Sheriff's Office. He and whitefish would be having words and likely better before long.
Katherine Bowen Wrote on March 8, 2019
On 3/7/2019 at 2:51 PM, Adelaide Chappel said: “Let ‘er rip Addy!”
"All right, sounds smart!" Clicking to the horses, she got them to pick up to a brisk trot, a pace they could sustain for a long distance, and by dusk they were pulling into Kalispell. "Marshal, ya wanna head over to th' sheriff's office an' I'll take care'a th' lady?" That way, the bodies would be out of sight when Kathleen stepped out of the stage. "I'll drive her on back of th' stables, outta sight."
As it was, they had started to draw a crowd due to the bodies, and Kathleen didn't need to be associated with this.
Kate sat quietly as the stage made its way to the back of the stables. Now that she was in Kalispell, she wanted to get out of the coach as soon as possible. More than anything at the moment she just wanted to get off her restrictive corset, kick off her boots and just lie down. It had been a long day. After a good night's sleep, she could re-focus her efforts and start getting to the know the people and the town she would be calling home for the next year or so.
She had signed a contract for a year and had no plans of backing out despite what had happened today. In a way, today's incident had strengthened her resolve to make it out here. It would be hard, but she had learnt a lesson today and she would make sure she was ready if and when something like this happened again. There would be people here who would help make sure that she wouldn't be as vulnerable as she had been today.
When the coached stopped, she waited for a moment before opening the door. Getting up she briefly looked at the ground and then stepped down. Smoothing the folds of her dress, she looked around for any signs of the people who were supposed to meet her. Making an unexpected stop behind the stables must have surprised them. No doubt, they would be here soon enough.
Watching the stage driver make her way down, Kate smiled at little. God had blessed her with a good driver and one who could handle herself. Maybe she could get some advice from her later on but now was not the time. Taking a deep breath, she asked, "Is it okay to wait a while here just in case Pastor and Mrs Evans are coming here or should we go looking for them?"
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Adelaide Chappel Wrote on March 9, 2019
As she started unloading the parcels from the top of the stage, Addy looked down at the young woman, giving her a grin. "Well, ya look like you could use a drink, ta be honest!" She winked, then shrugged. "Not likely they'd find us here, I usually stop on th' street, unless they seen us come in. Gimme a sec an'..."
But then a young tow-headed lad ran out of the barn, his eyes bright. "Miz Addy! They're saying you got robbed!" The boy's words were anxious and excited. "Did you really?" Then he noticed the newcomer and hesitated, his freckled nose wrinkling up. "Ma'am."
"Weddy, this is Miz Bowen," Addy explained, "th' new teacher. You go an' see if ya can find th' parson. I'll tell ya later on what happened."
"Yes, ma'am." Defeated, the lad ran off.
"There, now, you can have a seat an' wait there." She nodded to a bench in the shade of the big barn. "Ya want some water?"