“I’m not a very good public speaker, so I wouldn’t be much good in the courtroom.” James told Amos soberly, his voice low and quiet, a thoughtful expression on his face.“That makes a certain amount of sense.” James acknowledged dryly, offering a small smile over at the older man. He didn’t know if he wanted to learn to shoot but given where he lived now he knew it would probably be a good idea. Besides he might end up being terrible at it after all. If so then he could get out of it that way, right?
James’ eyes went wide when Amos brought up horses since that was something he did know something about, nothing good unfortunately. Since that incident with his pony when he was young, he was deathly afraid of them, not that he was willing to admit this fact to Amos or anyone.
"Not sure he'd be lookin' fer nop courtroom lawyer, no sir, Speed's lookin' to make sure what he does is all legal like. Right and tidy. Best way to do most anything, I 'spose. There's one in town he'd consider if'n she ain't locked up by the town, Mercer's her name, an' I heard nuthin' but good about 'er. She's the courtroom type. An' there wus this other fella, Peabody, yeah, Dutton Peabody, but hear tell he's in Helena on the gov'ners staff." The Amos smiled. "Lastly, we got us a snake name'a Latham, steer clear'a him. He's Steelgraves lawyer, 'lias Steelgraves lawyer. Not the purdy young thing wantin' ta build the hospital." He chuckled.
When he had mentioned horses, he saw the change on the young man's face. It went right to fear, meaning somewhere, sometime, there had been a problem. "Now son, 'bout them horses. I'd say you've got good reason to fight shy of cayuses, some er just plain honery. So whot is it that happened that got you riled up about horses?"
James listened intently, his brow furrowed as Amos spoke about the various lawyers in and around the little town, nodding slightly, “Well I can certainly handle that part. My knowledge is sufficient for that part anyway.” He mused, offering a slight smile in the older man’s direction. His eyes went wide when Amos spoke so casually about the last male lawyer. “I’ll do that sir. James said having no desire to run afoul of someone like that. “That’s most gracious of her.” He said realizing what Amos’ last statement had been about. Not that James was all that familiar with most of the people Amos spoke about. Speed, he knew of course, as well as Ada since he worked with them both these last few weeks.
James flushed, hating himself, not for the first time over how easy it was for absolutely everyone to read his every thought from the look on his too-transparent face. “My mount bolted when I was a boy.” He mumbled still crimson of cheek, “And I broke my arm when I fell.” What James didn’t say was that his own brother had been behind his unfortunate accident. He did his best to keep his face as blank as possible while pretending great interest in the passing scenery on his side of the wagon.
"Reckon that'd stay with a man, long after it happened. But, my friend, there' horse out there that that hard to get along with. An apple 'er a carrot, now them'll go a long way ta makin' friends with most any cayuse. There's places a body ken learn ta ride and ta shoot where no ones the wiser. Somethin' ta think about." Amos fell silent then, he had fed the young man enough information for him to think on as well.
Town was well in sight and that meant finding out about Speed, putting the hose and buggy up, least he needn't brush the animal down, that was a part of the rent on it.
"Guess we' drop the buggy off an go see how Speeds makin' out." Amos said,
“Aye, that it does.” James agreed quietly his voice gone thick with suppressed emotions as he remembered some of the darker moments of his life, the way his brother had treated him for the death of his mother a fact over which James had had no control. Unlike his older brother Henry, James had no memories of his mother, knowing only what little his father had told him about her. They’d had servants of course, as his father was a duke of the realm. The young Irish nanny who’d raised him had been the one he’d been closest to as a boy.
With a nod, James gave agreement. Climbing quickly down from the wagon before hurrying towards the doctor’s clinic to discover the state of his employer’s health after his unfortunate injury. He truly hoped that the man yet lived, medical treatment being what it was in places like this.
"Vat you think Amos? Da Marshal shot in broad daylight? Vat's dis vorld coming to?" Gunther Asked. Amos stood watching the young man hurry off.
"Hell Gunther, I ain't got no answer fer thet. No siree I ain't." He replied. "Not like there's a good answer fer whot happened. Could be an old grudge, could be a paid killer, an ya know whot? I tend ta believ it were a hiored gun whot done the job. Yes sir, someone hired thet done, but he missed! That's the redeemin' faster in this, he missed."
"Ya, dat's true, he missed. Doc Danforth vill fix him up gooed as new, I betcha!" Gunther said as he led the horse and buggy back toward the barn.
"Good as new, well maybe," He said to himself, not noticing the man leaning against the building, well within earshot of the conversation.
