"I'll go and deliver the news. Like I said, he ain't gonna like it none, but facts is facts, not that I didn't believe you Carson, just the old man's got this idea in his head about raidin' the place and makin' off with Thornton's cows." Granger explained, not that he needed to

"You boys get on back to work, and you Carson, whatever it was you were doin'." Then Granger tromped off toward the main house. There was never any way to tell what Elias' reaction to anything would be, it always seemed like a risk. Carson had done his due diligence, as had Dutch and the boys, and all had come up with the same conclusion, it just wasn't possible.

He stepped up to the back door, knocked and entered as he usually did. "Mister Steelgrave?" He called out. The boys come back from their scoutin' mission." Before Grannger cleared the kitchen Elias was there.

"And, and?" he asked.

"They came back with the same assessment as Carson. It would be a death trap, and the way they put it they likely couldn't get to one of the herds much less expect to get out with them." The foreman said bluntly. "They called it a death trap!"

"Dutch said that, and the others?"

"Yes sir. And they ain't afraid of much of anything." Came the response to Elias' question. Elias pulled out a chair from the kitchen table. "You know, I haven't sat here since Elinor left. Death trap, eh? There must be a way to get to them."

"The boys figured we'd need to find a way to pull them out of the place, a fort they called it, to get at 'em. Seems to me that'd take some doin'."

"It would, it would. You thank them for me, all of them, Carson especially." Elias said a bit out of character, as well as unexpected. As Granger left, Elias was still mumbling.

Once more, the two rode into the yard of the Steelgrave estate, and this visit was about good news, there was no way of their knowing exactly what Tyndall's visit was about, or what information this Fairchild might have on whatever subjects Tyndall thought were important enough to cart him there from Helena.

Latham had met Tyndall on more than one occasion but in the man's offices in Helena. A miserable trip to be sure. They stepped down, tied their horses to the hitch rail and mounted the stairs to front of the house, knocking on the door. Elias' lone servant answered the door and ushered them inside as Elias came out of the study.

"Well now, some good news I hope. This way gentlemen." He directed and they followed him back into the study. "And what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

"This telegram stating that Carson Tyndall and a Bradley Fairchild are on their way." Latham said handing the telegram to Elias. "Were you expecting an Eethan Noolan?"

It was quiet as Elias studied the telegram. "Uh, yes. Yes I am, I take it he's in town then?"

"Dead. Killed by some bounty hunter, name of Flagg, Turk Flagg." Latham related. "Guyer let him go."

"Noolan had a job to do for me, but I guess I'll need to find someone else now." Elias said.

"Forgive me," Nolan Ashworth began, "What sort of job would that be?" Elias had plenty of men capable of doing anything the man needed, why import another hired gun?"

Elias laughed, "Because Nolan, he was hired to kill Marshal Guyer."

"Wait, what? Kill Guyer?" Nolan Ashworth asked, stunned by Elias' admission.

"Well, I couldn't very well do it myself now could I. There is never a certainty in gun play. I might have been killed instead, and we couldn't have that could we?" Elias replied as if commenting on the weather. "So, I'll need another plan, since Noolan is dead. Seems a man can't make a simple plan and have it come to fruition. Unfortunate, but, not the only idea I might conjure up."

"That might well have worked, Noolan was unknown here, so it could not be tied to you." Latham said appreciating the plot to kill the Marshal. "Would that have opened the door for Case as County Sheriff? Or better yet, Town Marshal?"

"I hadn't thought of that, but possibly. Yes, that might well have been a plan. Yes, I'll need to import another gunman, rather not use my own men for the job, seems it might backfire as with Noolan." Elias mused, "Now this fellow that killed Noolan, he might work."

"He might, except he is known to the Marshal and the two from Helena, so it might not be such a good idea." Ashworth chimed in. Guyer would see that coming, and no, it wouldn't tie you in. Another thing, the man's a bounty hunter, gave his reward to Guyer who distributed it to the Pastor and the School teacher. So he's build a lot of good will in town. Not that that would matter much. But I doubt he'd be the man for the job."

"I agree Eliias, it should be someone not known here abouts, like the Noolan character. Without this Flagg fellow interfering the plan might have worked. Latham added, "I would be good to be rid of Guyer, he's had a hand in upsetting our plans right along."

"Oh, lest we forget, Elias, he bought that mining property just above your property." Ashworth stated.

"He did? Now that just might be a mistake! A fatal mistake." Elias said.

"Yes, he bought the property, and as far as we know, he was on his way to the bank for a loan to buy equipment. That does mean, he will be close at hand, so to speak. Just above you, rather than in town." Latham informed Elias. "We have sources, Elias."

"Once he's up there on the property, whatever might befall him could appear to be an accident, or perhaps Indians, you never know what those red devils might do." Ashworth suggested.

"Yes, yes. A dangerous profession, mining, especially for one not well versed in the field." Elias said, and then laughed, almost a wicked sound emerging from his throat. "Why, any number of things could happen to him and those with him. A very hazardous endeavor, mining."

"Quite so, Elias, and who would there be to suggest that you had anything to do with such a tragedy? The man may have walked into his own demise." Latham agreed.

"Any word from Carson Tyndall and the Fairweather fellow?" Elias asked, changing the subject without batting an eye.

"Fairchild, sir. Just that they would be on the road by now, I suspect that they would be fairly close, even by stagecoach. In fact I would expect them any day now." Ashworth said, "There is no where to send a wire on the trail from Helena to here.

"An inconvenience to be sure," Latham added. "But they will be here in good time, I'm sure. I will make reservations at the hotel for them and put everything on your account?"

"The man makes enough off of me, but yes, on the account. You did tell me that my daughter had moved out of the suite?" Elias replied ending in a question.

"I did sir, she has a small house in town." Latham replied. "Actually, sir, she has taken up two houses, one directly across the street, housing her body guards who are ever on the alert."

"Well, we'll just have to attend to that at a later date, and the progress on the hospital project?"

"There are supplies coming. The project is underway once the supplies and builders arrive. Of course housing will be a problem, the town only has so many rooms available between the hotel, the boarding house, and any house that may be for rent, which usually is few to none."

"More planning." Elias said, exhaling as if it was some sort of a burden.

"A copper mine? Of all the things for a law man to involve himself in." Elias grumbled. "Is there any money in this operation of his?"

"Yes sir, Elias, a great deal. Copper is becoming as vaulable as gold or silver. They are finding a great many uses for it back east, not so much out here yet, but yes, the main applications of copper are in electrical wiring, roofing, plumbing, and industrial machinery. All things that are being developed in the east. Telegraph wires out here. So, yes, the mineral is becoming quite valuable, and in demand." Latham explained in answer to Elias' query.

"He, Guyer, has decided it would seem to try and do two jobs, well, unless he hires out the mining aspect of it. He could do that easily enough. I mean miners are a dime a dozen, but copper miners will be in high demand as his is not the only mine in the state. I would think that copper men would soon be at a premium." Nolan Ashworth interjected. But I could be wrong, I'm not that well versed in the mining industry."

"Perhaps this is something I should be looking into, something I should know more about, I mean, just in case there is a mine that becomes available to invest in." Elias said, in jest. "Having Guyer as a neighbor might work out very well. A man trying to do two professions might mean his days as Town Marshal may well be coming to an end, along with his life. I mean we all know how dangerous mining can be. Now, all that's necessary is finding a man to run against him, and create the opening for Case to step into the County Sheriff role.

"Yes, yes, Elias, something you might want to look into, especially the idea of someone to run against Guyer, that's brilliant, if in fact we can find someone to fill that bill." Latham added.

"That may not be so easy, Elias, not locally anyway. Whoever we might locate would almost have to be unknown around these parts. And, there could be no connection to you, or us for that matter." Ashworth pointed out.

"Yes, yes, that is a must." Elias agreed, "Finding the right man for the job may not be easy. But if we could, then perhaps we could dethrone Guyer and take control of Kalispell." Was it a pipe dream, or perhaps an idea worth following up on. It would seem that they had gained an edge with Guyer's foray into the mining business.

The townsfolk and the city fathers, such as they were, would not be happy with their Town Marshall spending his time twenty miles away town. Especially if there was trouble while he was gone off to his mine. Elias turned to them then, "And his deputy Pike? What of him?"

"Pike is off gallivanting about the country side, seems he had business in Nevada, I may have mentioned that before. At any rate, he and his wife are off on an extended honeymoon and no one knows when he might return, which leaves young Charlie Wentwoth. He would be ineffective in times of real trouble, green as grass."

"Well now, I think we have more than one plan in the mix, wouldn't you say." Elias smiled, but it was far from a pleasant smile.

"A mining accident, has less to be suspicious about. Everyone knows it dangerous. There's always a risk in the mines." Ashworth stated. "Had anyone thought that perhaps he may not run for re-election as Marshal, or run for County Sheriff? That this mining operation may pull him out of office, and our hair once and for all?"

Elias looked at Ashworth. "Can't say as I'd given that possibility any thought at all, but yes, yes by God, that's a real possibility. Guyer could walk away from it for this mine of his. That is not hard to believe, not at all."
 

"And, he has this woman, rumor has it he bought her a ring, so there is that too. Now I know any number of lawmen are married, that is far from out of the question. But, add the mine and the woman, and he could walk away from town employment. I can certainly see that happening." Latham added. "Trading one danger for another, well, unless he stays above ground to run the operation.

"This is real food for thought, gentlemen. Marshal Guyer trading his badge for a pick and a shovel, yes sir, and no risk to any of us, because he'll no longer be our problem." Elias offered with a rare smile. "I propose that we wait and see how this shakes out before doing anything unnecessary." Both men nodded in agreement.

"Well gentlemen, this has been quite the conversation, and presented us with some possibilities for the future. A mining accident, and the woman, that certainly has possibilities, and last but not least the man walks out of our lives and someone we can control walks in. Not sure who that would be, I doubt Case would have a chance at it, but, one never knows." Elias expounded.

"We should be getting back, Elias." Latham suggested, it had be quite a morning. Much had been discussed. And perhaps an end to the Guyer problem had been discussed, although they were unaware of the plans that Case was in the process of developing. Things for Town Marshall Guyer were about to get complicated.

"Then gentlemen I suggest you do just that, and I trust if anything comes up, you'll let me know." Elias agreed.

"You may rely on it." Nolan Ashworth assured him as they rose and started for the door.

"Enjoy the ride back." Elias added as they stepped outside and cross the porch to the steps and descended them. Elias closed the door as they mounted up and headed for town.

Nothing had worked out to this point. Sending men to the wire expecting trouble had been a waste of time, it was clear that Lost Lake was not sending anyone. He found that troubling, but then he had no inclination of what might be going on over there. Maybe they would do something, maybe they wouldn't but Elias was confident he men could meet any challenge for Thornton's men.

The Guyer situation had him confused as to what the current Marshal might be thinking about for the future. He was engaged to be married and that could have a profound effect on what a man in his position might do. Of course that would depend on the assay results, but then again, where would he get them, there was no assayer in town, so somewhere else.

And Case, what would he be up to? What plans might he have, since he had the men to force whatever plan he might have, and could he count on his son when he needed him. He wanted to believe he could, but he simply did not know.