Case Steelgrave Wrote on March 27, 2019

"I probably know the answer to this since you are here, Marshal," Hannah said dryly. "But, was anyone hurt? Addy okay?"

"Addy and her passenger, your new schoolmarm, are fine, a bit shaken, but unhurt." Case replied. "The boys over their saddles are the Barnes brothers and cousin Lem Hoskins. I know there's warrants for them with rewards. I'd be obliged if you'd see to it the lady gets the whatever'd be my share, and what you'd consider the best horse. The rest and the sale of their guns and such like should go to Kyle Barnes' woman and child down Abilene way. It's what Addy and I discussed. Seems fair."

Posted on March 27, 2019

Hannah regarded the Whitefish Marshal steadily. She could understand how he had always avoided the hangman's noose. Case Steelgrave simply did not look or act like the cold blooded killer most people knew him to be. Her father, Kalispell's town marshal, had always told her to not confuse the law with justice. Most of the time, the two things were one and the same. Sometimes, however, justice bore no relation to the law at all.

This was one of those times. What Steelgrave had proposed was fair and just.

"The Barnes Brothers..." Hannah shook her head, "...they have been on the top of our list of local lowlife to bring in." Hannah led the way outside and paused by the bulletin board to pull down the poster on the brothers. Fishing a pencil out of her vest pocket, Hannah used the bulletin board to support the poster while she scribbled Case's instructions on the back of it. When done, she handed the poster and pencil to Steelgrave, "Mind signing off on the distribution of reward and property?"

Case Steelgrave Wrote on March 27, 2019

"Not at all." Case said taking the pencil and affixing his signature to the impromptu document, then handing it back to Hannah."Probably best I head on back to Whitefish now that all this is completed. I'm sure Addy'l back up what I've signed my name to and Hannah, please see to it that Miss Bowen is made comfortable and receives the proper welcome she's entitled to." He paused. "Thanks, Hannah." He extended his hand, a somewhat unexpected gesture.

Posted March 30, 2019

Hannah was taken a bit by surprise when Steelgrave offered his hand. However, she returned the offer with a warm, firm grip. Despite her reservations regarding the man's character, he was serving as a fellow law enforcement officer. Things would be better for all the residents of Kalispell and Whitefish if they could maintain cordial relations.

"You're welcome, Marshal. Thank you for seeing the stage safely home and being so generous with the rewards and property disposition."

Pocketing the poster with the signature on it, Hannah stepped off the boardwalk and gathered the reins of the three horses with their burden of dead criminals. "I will certainly check in on Miss Bowen and Addy once I've handed these bodies off to the undertaker. Have a safe journey back to Whitefish."

Case Steelgrave Wrote on March 31, 2019

"I will certainly check in on Miss Bowen and Addy once I've handed these bodies off to the undertaker. Have a safe journey back to Whitefish."

Case touched the brim of his hat. "Thank you, Deputy. Glad I could help." He said and stepped off the boardwalk to the hitch rail and his own horse.''

"Excuse me folks, Deputy. Phinn McVay with the Kalispell Union." Phinn announced as he hurried to the pair, a pad in one hand, a pencil in the other. "I'd like to get the story on those men and what happened."

Case looked at him. "There was an attempt on the stage and as I had heard of the possibility I left Whitefish in pursuit of the coach." He explained.

"I see, Marshal is it? Now this Miss Bowen you mentioned Deputy, who might she be?" Was the editors next question.

"It is." Case sted as he climbed aboard his horse, He was tired and it had been a long day." I've a long ride back to Whitefish, you'll excuse me." With that, he wheeled the animal and trotted up the street.

Hannah had to wonder how Case had cottoned onto the fact the stage was to be robbed as it was out of his jurisdiction. However it had happened, it was fortuitous. She tugged on the horse's reins, "You'll have to excuse me, Mr. McVay. I need to get these boys to the undertaker before they get any riper. Come by the Marshal's office in the morning and I will give you what details I can."

NPCs written by Bongo on March 31, 2019

Smiling brightly, Weedy trotted ahead of the older couple so that he could announce their arrival, with he did with pride at accomplishing his task. "Parson and Miz Evans are comin'!" he declared, glancing at Addy then the newcomer. She sure was pretty, and he wondered why she was here, she looked too...nice to be here. But then Addy solved that, much to his dismay, as she introduced the woman to the couple who had just strolled into the yard.

"Reverend, Miz Jemima, this here's Miss Bowen...Katherine, th' new school teacher." She grinned as Weedy let out a little groan...with no teacher, the kid had had an easy go of things, but he knew that Addy would make him go to school, even if she wasn't his Ma.

"Gideon Evans," the man gave his proper name, touching the brim of his hat and giving her a friendly nod. "Pleased to meet you, I'm glad to see you made it safely." They hadn't heard of the adventure that the coach crew had had.

"Katherine, it's so good to have you here!" Jemima moved forward with a huge smile to give the young woman a hug. "You're rooms aren't quite ready, so you can spend the night with us, if that is all right?" Her smile widened. "I made blueberry pie, and Sally Lunn cakes. I hope you're hungry?"

Phineas G. McVay Wrote on April 8, 2019

She tugged on the horse's reins, "You'll have to excuse me, Mr. McVay. I need to get these boys to the undertaker before they get any riper. Come by the Marshal's office in the morning and I will give you what details I can."

Phinn smiled, recognizing this was not the ‘bums rush’ to be rid of him, but a necessity of the moment. “Of course, of course, Deputy. I will make it a point of stopping by early and gathering whatever information you might have.” He closed his notebook and placed it in his vest pocket, along with the nub of a pencil he used.

As he watched her leave it dawned on him, the stagecoach was nowhere to be seen, meaning it would be out of sight, perhaps, he guessed the stables.

This was a story he wanted to have, one complete with a gun battle resulting in three dead men. He wished that the Marshal who had brought the bodies in would have been more forthcoming about the incident, but, he would get what he could from everyone involved and strode off toward the stables.

Minutes later Phinn arrived at the stables and indeed, there sat the coach. He picked up his pace.

Case Steelgrave Wrote on April 8, 2019

Case Steelgrave pushed on through the night at an easy pace for both him and the horse. It had certainly been an eventful past several hours. He was conflicted about his part in resolving the stage hold up. Not that killing the men bothered him, quite the contrary, it had happened without feeling, much as it always had. There had never been any feelings about killing, it was just part and parcel of who he was.

And what of this woman? Why had he raced to stop the holdup? Why had he intervened, this bothered him, it was not the sort of thing that Case would do as there was nothing to gain from the intervention besides the killing of men he didn’t like, and a risk to his own life. So the question of why what was it about her? She was just a woman, granted, a pretty woman, but just a woman none the less. He was a man with no time for entanglements and she would certainly be that if he allowed it.

There were stolen cattle to be moved once the brands were altered, and more to be taken. No, Case Steelgrave had no time to spare on anything, much less a school teacher in Kalispell. He pushed on in the darkness with his thoughts.