Mature Content: Language.
With: Elias, Granger, Deckerd, Treach, Watts, & Dutch
Location: Main House, On The Range, On Lost Lake
When: July1876
Time of Day: Late Afternoon
Attorney of sorts, Cole Latham, and Postmaster, newly minted, Nolan Ashworth rode out of town at a leisurely pace so as to not arouse suspicion that most already had about the pair. They were riding north, that would mean The Evergreen, and reporting to Elias Steelgrave. Generally only one would have the task of informing Elias of either his daughter, Leah's or son Case's doings that both went, that was something that did get attention. Including that of editor Phineas McVay who happened to be leaned against and awning post. He stepped back into his office and smiled at printers devil, Tommy Lane.
"Round up our news rats and find out what's going on, just saw Latham and Ashworth headed for the Evergreen." He ordered. The news rats were hi informants that kept an eye on things around town.
The ride north was about the goings on since the last report and that which had happened that afternoon. It began with Guyer and Leah, then to Guyer and Wentworth, of the hotel, and culminated with a visit to Judge Robertson. None of those visits were in secret, nor was there any attempt to hide these meetings, and, that would mean the promised land for the hospital which was delayed.
Elias, ever volatile , would not be happy. He had been assured the judges silence as well as his delay in granting any parcel of land. So whatever the unknown outcome of these meetings, Elias would not be happy, both with the meetings and with the lack of knowledge as to what went on with Judge Robertson.
Neither Latham nor Ashworth were in a any particular hurry to reach the Evergreen ranch house which sat better then a mile in off the road still called Whitefish Trail, even though it had been destroyed nearly eight months earlier.
"You think Guyer will make trouble?" Ashworth asked. "I mean I know he and Leah are friends, and he had been one of her staunch supporters in this deal."
"He has, that's for sure, but as far as actually making trouble, I doubt it, but then again Nolan, it could depend what kind of trouble you're talking about. Seems he may have already started down that road."
"And Wentworth, I heard the rumor he's considering a run for Mayor. What would that look like?" Ashworth wondered aloud. "He doesn't seem the type to be controlled, not that Scott Cory was one to be controlled, but then Scott Cory was more of a 'figurehead' for the Town Council, but Cory and his daughter had not been seen in some months, though Ashworth had delivered a letter from Scott Cory to Wentworth just two days ago. No stamp, no postmark.
"Controlled? No, no he doesn't and I think we need to get a candidate to go against him." Latham observed. "The last thing we need is someone that will actually take charge of things, and damn that Richard Orr, we could have used him. The man had less scruples than even Elias Steelgrave, for Gods sake."
"I guess we'll see what Elias has to say about that. I'm just not looking forward to it." Ashworth said as they turned onto the Evergreen trail, as it was called.
They arrived unchallenged at the main house, one that had bustled with activity not so long ago. Three boys, Ben, Case, Clay and Zeke, daughter Leah and wife Elinore. A family scattered to the winds. All that remained was Leah, the impetuous, disrespectful daughter that had escaped his grip, as had Elinor, and the boys. Grown men with families of their own, lives of their own, free of the iron hand of Elias Steelgrave.
He was a man alone. There were his hands, his foreman, men like Latham and Ashworth who were willing to do his bidding, legally, or otherwise. And, there were others, unknown to the likes of the pair that currently stood at the front door. men scattered over the country that were busy doing Elias' bidding.
Elias answered the door and ushered them in with a brief greeting, offering them a drink, though he himself had sworn off, again. "So, what brings you out today, aside from the usual. Leah at it again?"
Latham cleared his throat, "It's more about Marshal Guyer, and Matt Wentworth. To start at the beginning, Guyer went to see Leah, which to a point was unusual, there's some rumor about Case returning to the area. Then he went directly to the hotel. He and Wentworth left there and went straight to the Municipal Building, meaning, Judge Robinson, or that's my guess."
"No idea what they discussed?" Elias asked. "Although, it has to be about the damned hospital land."
"Elias, she has had an offer to build in Columbia Falls." Ashworth added.
"Columbia Falls, eh? Well that does me no good." He growled. "As far as Robinson, well,he has a lot to lose by saying anything to anybody. Did he sent the draft agreement to Helena as he was instructed?"
"He did Elias, I saw to it personally, it could be delayed there for months." Ashworth assured him.
"Perhaps, but there is the chance it will be seen by the wrong people and that could send an investigation, not that there was anything amiss with the draft, but one never knows." Elias was not all together sure of the plan, even though it had been his idea.
"And what of my son Case? There's nothing for him here."
"I won't argue that, Elias, not at all. Case has no town anymore, he's certainly not welcome in Kalispell, but the fact remains, he is said to be on his way here. It is country he knows." Latham stated. "Now I do know that he and Guyer are on very bad terms after the way he was treated. There is that, to consider. How important killing Guyer is to him I couldn't say."
"Seems a flimsy reason to come back. You know he is fast with that gun of his, but from what I hear, Guyers no slouch in that department. My thought is this, if Case has gone completely bad, then this country is rich for cattle to rustle, banks to hit, mining payroll to be taken. Hell, Elias, your cattle. If he's bad, well, I doubt your ownership or your brand would make a difference to him."
"You've a point, Cole, it wouldn't make any difference at all." Elias agreed. "Best have the men on alert. Imagine that, son stealing from his father." Elias laughed, there was little humor in it. "If that's the case, then Case will have more on his hands that Speed Guyer to be concerned with, I don't care how many men he has with him."
"Honestly, if Case is in fact on his way here, stealing your cattle might not be high on his list. Not that Guyer would be at the top of it, but you have to consider he's been gone a while and he'll need to get the lay of the lands, so to speak. Figure out what it is he's after." Latham replied.
"Yes, yes you're right, but I do like the thought he would have the sand to go against me. Which brings to mind a question or two you boys might be able to answer for me. Any word on Shade Thornton? Been quite a while now." Elias probed.
"Nothing. Like he simply up and vanished." Ashworth responded. "No mail from anywhere, same with that attorney woman, Harriet Mercer and come to think of it, Hanah Cory too. Folks just seemed to have up and disappeared." The truth was that there had been nothing over the wires or through the mail for any of them. "Can't say as I've seen Quentin Cantrell around either, but that's not out of the ordinary. Why do you ask?"
"Considering some options that might be presenting themselves. Something to consider, you know something for the future." Elias said smoothly, as if, whatever he was thinking was already in the planning stages, and that had to do with Lost Lake Ranch."
It fell quiet for a long moment.
"Lean on Robertson if need be, remind him that there are consequences. Keep your ears to the ground about Case, and anything to do with the Thornton's or Cantrell." Elias ordered. "Now get back to town and make sure that Leah's plans are derailed!"
Latham and Ashworth got to their feet, Latham speaking first, "I'll see to the Judge personally. As far as Cantrell,"
"I've seen nothing from or about him or the Thorntons, other than that woman cousin in town, whatever she is. Got herself on with the paper, so I'm thinking we'll have her nosing around, but likely just women's stuff." Ashworth chimed in.
"Oh, yes, I forgot about the widow Sarah Thornton-Carlton, perhaps you're right about her covering the ladies news, but perhaps she has loftier ambitions." He said smoothly adding, "she can be eliminated. No go. I have things to do."
Without another word, and their orders clear, both men exited the house, mounted their horse and galloped out of the yard until the were almost to the main trail back to town.
"I haven't seen him like this in some time." Ashworth said. "what do you think he's planning?"
"It's not good whatever it is. And derailing Leah's plans may well be easier said than done." Latham offered. "There's more to what he has in mind that that. His mention of the Thorntons, hell, nobody has seen Shade since before Christmas last."
"You think he plans to go after Lost Lake?" Was Ashworth's question.
"Could be, Nolan, could be. He's riled up about something, that's for sure." Latham said.
With Shade and whatever family that had been on the Lost Lake gone, that made it a prime target for increasing his herd, and perhaps his holdings. There were a couple of facts that stood out, he had the men to make it happen, and if the rumors of his son Case's return were true, Case's men would be a welcome addition to this plan. Yet Elias was shrewd enough to know that open warfare with Lost Lake would create more problems than it would solve.
Increasing heard and holdings was always tempting to just ride roughshod over whomever stood in his way. But his daughter had brought Governor Houser into the mix, and with him a pair of Marshals to bolster Town Marshal and acting County Sheriff Guyer along with his Deputes Pike and Wentworth. And what was yet another fly in the ointment, there were the three turncoats, Bannister, Santee, and McKenny. So one needed to be a bit more cautious than he would like in doing things that needed doing to enhance his holdings of cattle and land.
Case would bring with him, experienced rustlers, and perhaps the best brand artist in this part of the country. That would be of immense help! Of course, he would need to get Case on his side, to see things his way, which had never been easy. And, once Cantrell was out of the way, provided he was still there, they could take the ranch with little problems. Oh, men would die, that was a given, in a situation such as that, but men could be replaced easily enough.
He exhaled with a smile. Yes, plans that needed more work, a son he needed to reunite with and recruit to his side, instead of having separate agendas. Combined, they would be a force to be reckoned with! Which brought to mind sons Ben, Clay and Zeke, perhaps.
He stood at the window and watched them ride away. Two men that he could trust to do his bidding, two crooks out for the payday that Elias could make, and perhaps afford them the ability to move up in the community. There was the mayoral election, ways to weasel into the Town Council where Postmaster Ashworth already was ensconced, replacing the late Richard Orr, and not much better, though perhaps not with Orr's grandiose designs.
The idea of taking Lost Lake was becoming more appealing by the moment. So far as he knew, with Shade gone God knows where, the next in line would be co-owners Cody and Nettie Thornton, and, Quentin Cantrell. The Thorntons were in California, a long way from Montana and what Elias Steelgrave could do in his own behalf. Now Quentin Cantrell could pose a problem, he was a tough customer alright, but there were ways to dispense with a man like Cantrell. It had already been done many times in Elias' storied past.
Of course, raiding the Lost Lake herds, that would be easy enough to accomplish, with or without crossing Aurelian Redmonds patch of dirt. Of course if he was to take lost lake, Redmond would stand little chance against his riders, but he could wait, there were much bigger fish to fry.
Where was Cantrell, that was the question?
Then too, there was Guyer to consider, he knew that Pike, his gun hand Deputy was off in California somewhere, and Wentworth, they could be dealt with, so could the turncoats.
Things were coming together quite nicely. Elias smiled.
Elias had big plans, but what he realized was, he could not afford to start a range war with Lost Lake, not that he any doubts about who would come out on top n such a skirmish. And he caught himself thinking the word 'skirmish,' range wars were seldom a skirmish. There were out and out gun battles between the sides, so it was imperative that he begin to think of a better way to get what he was after. He could not kill Shade Thompson, simply because he was no there. That Shade had killed his son Cal, the revenge would be to take his property and destroy his legacy! That was a far better revenge.
Killing Guyer or Pike or even Wentworth for the sake of killing them would only drag the Territorial Government into the fray, and they would have the Army at their disposal, so perhaps dialing back his ambitions and attacking the problem from a different position would be the best way to deal with it. And should Case be disposed to help out, perhaps do the raiding and rustling as well as disposing the cattle, then that would make everything a bit easier.
Elias Steelgrave was not stupid, nor impetuous.
Elias got up from his chair and went to the door where a man was posted. "Get me Granger." He ordered to a prompt 'Yes Sir!' Elias stepped back inside.
The memory of the men that had tried and failed to rustle his cattle flooded back to him. It had been enjoyable to get out and take part in bringing them down. To watching one swing for his trouble. That was what happened to rustlers that were caught alive. And it would happen at the nearest tree. So planning a raid on Lost Lake cattle had to be precise.
Men were easy to get, but good men were harder to come by on his side of the law. Men handy with rope or gun were sometimes in short supply, not so on the Evergreen. Those were the hands that made up the majority of those on the payroll.
"You sent for me, boss?" Granger asked as he walked into the room, hat in hand.
"Yes, have a seat. I'm looking at thinning the Lost Lake herd some, but I want it done with the least risk to our men." Elias began, "I'd as soon not have anyone killed, if at all possible. And yes, I understand what I'm asking. I know the risks that are involved. What I'm proposing is that we select, if you will, men to scout Lost Lake and where they are holding their cattle."
Granger nodded, "That'd make it some easier, Boss. We got some that would fit the bill."
"Good. I have a notion that not all the herds are manned by more than one or two men. It makes sense for the high meadows to be held by a couple men at most. I want to act before they bring them down closer to the ranch itself. Of course that won't be until the weather starts to turn this fall, so there's time to put a plan into action."
"That can be done, I'll get on it right now!" Granger replied. Striking the Lost Lake made him smile.