Posted December 17, 2020 | Jonah Danforth

“Yes we will. Though that sort of thing appears to be a long way off, for the moment.” She said. “And, the situation may never come to the need to do away with Elias Steelgrave.”

"I'd like to think that it won't ever get to that, but I have no doubt of your concerns." He smiled, a bit thinly. "If you feel the need, there are ways that don't involve...violence. It may take longer, but the causes wouldn't be so evident..."

He'd never really thought seriously about how to kill a person, but there were certainly medical ways to do that, and it would appear more natural, less suspicious.

And wasn't it interesting that he was at a community dance, discussing how to murder a man with a pretty lady!

Posted December 17, 2020 | Adelaide Chappel

Addy enjoyed the dance, even if a good deal of it was improvised, there was something about the fast dances that felt a little like flying, if people really could fly, and the Captain proved to be passing fair at the skill. When it ended, she was grinning widely and panting just a bit.

"Thank ya, Cap'n, that was right fun!" She noticed Jay then, doing something under the skirts of Miss Bridget, and then Old Lady Miggins started to carry on about...something.

Addy frowned, tempted to go see what was going on, but then deciding that it wasn't any of her concern, she wasn't quite yet willing to admit that she might have feelings for Jay...

"Ya wanna get some cookies or pie?" she asked Barlow, her attention still on Jay, "Miz Emeline's a right good cook..."

Posted December 17, 2020 | Leah Steelgrave

She laughed at the statement about ‘other ways.’ “Not laughing at you, Jonah. And yes, I agree with you, that there are other ways, slow, deservedly painful ways to die. But if it must be done, then a bullet would be my choice. Though slow and painful is what he richly deserves.”

Then she paused, looked him in the eye and smiled as she said; “You’re a good man Jonah, I would not ask you to be involved in anything as ugly as murder. We will build that hospital and the orphanage no matter what happens. There is land available, a lot of it. And I have the funds, thanks to Mister Steelgrave. So you see, the town council can only prove they are big fish in a very little pond.”

Posted December 17, 2020 | Jonah Danforth

“Not laughing at you, Jonah. And yes, I agree with you, that there are other ways, slow, deservedly painful ways to die. But if it must be done, then a bullet would be my choice. Though slow and painful is what he richly deserves.”

Note to self, Jonah thought, don't get on Miss Leah's bad side! But there was really nothing to be said to her declaration, while he understood, at least some, and he didn't think any less of her...in fact, he was impressed that she had the moxie to stand up for herself, ironically likely a result of her life with the man she so hated.

“You’re a good man Jonah, I would not ask you to be involved in anything as ugly as murder. We will build that hospital and the orphanage no matter what happens. There is land available, a lot of it. And I have the funds, thanks to Mister Steelgrave. So you see, the town council can only prove they are big fish in a very little pond.”

"Little pond..." Jonah grinned and chuckled. "Not much room for all those big fish, eh? Wouldn't it be a pity if they all started eating each other?"

Typical of people in power, once they got what they wanted they tended to turn on each other, and that was never pretty.

Posted December 18, 2020 | Leah Steelgrave

"Little pond..." Jonah grinned and chuckled. "Not much room for all those big fish, eh? Wouldn't it be a pity if they all started eating each other?"

"Well then, that would solve the initial problem wouldn’t it. Actually they really present no actual problem, simply one which is perceived, by them.” She replied, with a smile at the idea of it.

Typical of people in power, once they got what they wanted they tended to turn on each other, and that was never pretty.

“Consider this, what’s really in it for Robinson and the others? A moment of what, fame? Overpowering a woman with audacity to try to give something to her community? Something that will prosper the town? They will take credit for the railroad, I’m sure, they are concocting a way to do that. I could care less about credit, I want to build the hospital and the orphanage, they can have the glory for all I care, it will do nothing for the sick or orphaned.”

Posted December 18, 2020 | Brendan Connolly

So Clara's family was from back east, too. Well, most everyone was, but for some reason Brendan was surprised that Clara was. It shouldn't have been surprising; the clipped, careful way she spoke should have been enough to clue him in to the fact that she was from somewhere up north. But Brendan had never really paid attention to girl's accents before; just what they said and the way they were looking at him when they said it.

"Well, I do not want you to think I am putting on pretenses, I am still just a plain old farm girl," Clara wanted him to understand.

"Uh-huh." Brendan glanced sideways at the couple opposite them in the square to hide his smile. She might not put on pretenses when it came to clothes, but she definitely put on the pretense that she was a straight-laced, prudish little schoolmarm...and maybe thought she was better than other people?

But she certainly didn't seem that way now. At his joke about the world ending, Clara had a reply for him. "Well, I certainly hope not! Just when I am enjoying myself. Hopefully it will at least delay until after the dance is finished," Clara quipped right back.

Brendan grinned, beginning to enjoy himself a lot more than he thought he would. He had expected Clara to be affronted at his teasing, but instead she was joining in and joking right back at him.

"Were you not enjoyin' yourself with Charlie Wentworth earlier? He step on your feet or somethin'?"

He slid one arm around her waist and grabbed her hand as they promenaded around their square. It was another joke, but he was also fishing for information about the Lost Lake hand.

Posted December 18, 2020 | Emeline Pike

“Now see, there you go,” He chided, “see these folks all around? Ranchers, farmers and merchants, they all figgered a way to come have a time. We can do that to, childern or not, well, for a little bit anyways.” He grinned at her, “You’ll see, we’ll be here for the dances as they happen. Just you wait and see.”

"We'll just have to pack up the kids and tote them along!" Emeline laughed as she took his arm. "After all, we shouldn't turn down free food, and the sooner they get married, the sooner they are out from under our roof! And making us grandchildren." She laughed, steering him back for the tables. "Of course, if we have them learn to play instruments, then they can provide entertainment for the barn dances, right? For the Centennial...oh, guess there isn't much time to practice for that. We'll just have to wait for the turn of the century!"

Posted December 19, 2020 | Barnabas Pike

“Turn of the Century? If that don’t sound ominous I ain’t sure what does. “at’s fightin’ shy of thirty years, well, be twenty-four to be exact.” Which gave him pause. “That’d be nineteen hunder’d, reckon we’d have us a brood by then, growed an’ gone. Maybe not all, but some. An’ them all playin’ music, why, that’d be right special, wouldn’t it?”

But even a boy from Texas realized that what she was saying meant change, change beyond their comprehension to the land and to what they would become. Yet he smiled, remembering his early days, times that his own children would never experience. Not a conflict like that of the North and South, as the south was crushed and still recovering. And the red man, what would become of him? Times would dictate that. In an instant he snapped back to the moment as the musicians started up again. “Dance Miss Blakesley, while I can still call you that?”