Foreman Layton Harris was talking with Elias about range conditions and having men out rounding up strays when there was a rap on the front door. An odd sound as there were rare visitors to the ranch, and family simply walked in.

Elias looked up, brow furrowed at the sound. "Now what in tarnation is this about? Who'd be coming out here? Layton, get that."

"Yes sir." Harris said already heading for the door. He pulled the heavy oak door open to see young Billy and a woman. "What the- Billy you know you ain't supposed to bring your lady friends out here." He shook his head, well she wasn't bad looking, needed cleaning up, but not bad.

"What is it Layton?" Elias called out.

"Billy brought some female out here lookin' for work."

"Well? Bring her in."

"Miss, if you'll follow me. Billy, you get back to work." Layton Harris said, the last part an order.

“Don’t mean to intrude, mister.  I’d gotten myself pretty turned ‘round out there and was glad enough to run into Mister Greer and Mister Watlow.  Sure hope any job openin’s ain’t for navigatin’” she tried, taking a jab at herself.

“I don’t believe that’ll be much of a problem, miss.” Harris said as the walked into the study.

Before Harris could speak, Elias turned to face them, giving the pistol packing girl a long once over. His eyes narrowed at the guns. “Ever kill a man?” He asked casually, setting the paper in his hand on the desk. "Let’s begin with what type of work you’re prepared to do, and then we’ll move on to what I see as available.” He gestured to a cowhide covered chair. “Have a seat, Miss Layton? Would you get us some coffee please?”

“Yes sir.” and he left the room.

Layton Harris came back into the study bearing a tray with two cups and an ornate silver pot. He set it on a table and proceeded to pour both cups, the stood erect waiting on the next instruction.

Elias looked his way, "Layton, see to the men that brought her here and find out how the search for strays is going."

"Yes sir." Came the crisp reply and with that he turned on a heel and was gone. All were trained that when Elias Steelgrave was interviewing, hired hands were not welcome, no matter the interviewee.

"Now then, about you and your desire to work for the Evergreen Ranch." He began, a thoughtful look on his face. "I'm not quite sure just where you might fit in, but there is something that tells me you could be quite useful where others could not." Pausing again. "Of course we'll have to get you cleaned up, and see how you would appear as a lady...of sorts."

“But I clean up alright,” she said.  “A woman can move in some circles easier than a man.  Spec-ly when she bats her eyes at the menfolk.”

"Exactly my point. There are some situations where you could be most useful to me." Elias said taking up his cup of coffee. "Whoring is not what I had in mind, to set your mind at ease. Those pistols of yours may well come in handy, but for the most part it will be your charms that will come into play. How far you are willing to take those charms is of no concern to me, but I would expect you to complete the task at hand." He paused for effect. "Since I am married and have an adult daughter living here I am not able to offer you lodging, and I certainly wouldn't expect you to  live in the bunk house. So, I will have one of my men escort you to Whitefish, my son is marshal there, and with a note from me, he'll set you up with whatever is needed."

Dorothy sat up a bit straighter in the seat, her smile faltering momentarily.  “A marshal?”  Billy and Greer hadn’t mentioned that little tidbit of information.  She forced the smile back in place.  No one this far north would know who she was, she reasoned to herself.  Nothing to worry about.  Of course, had she known there was a detective so close, she’d have been a good deal more worried.

Elias smiled, “Nothing for you to worry about Miss, the Marshal is my son Case Steelgrave, and you’ll fit right in with his Whitefish crowd.

“That’ll be good.  I’m Dotty Jackson, by the way.  I look forward to bein’ a help to you, Mister Steelgrave,” she said, ready to prove her worth.  Suddenly, the future was looking a little brighter.    

“Yes Miss Jackson, I’m sure you will be, and not to worry about any wants or warrants, Case will see that they are quashed, and if not him, we have other legal remedies to resolve unpleasant situations.” There was a brief pause, “you’ll be sure to let the Marshal know of any pending problems so they can be mitigated quickly.”

There would be many things for her to do, and perhaps the best use of this young lady rested with Case in Whitefish. With the expansion of the Evergreen holdings and the pending withdrawal from Flathead County, he was sure that she would be an asset going forward.

Why, Mister Steelgrave, if you weren’t a married man, I might kiss you,” she said, not bothering to try to hide the fact that she felt relief at his statement.  Though despite being overly forward with her words, she tried no such thing.  Hell, he probably wouldn’t even want to shake her unwashed hand right now.

Elias gave here a quizical look but changed it to a slight smile.

Instead, she drained her coffee and set the empty cup back down on the tray.  “I’m sure I’ll get ‘long just fine with your son,” she said.

“Let’s count on that. Case is...well sometimes hard to get to know, but we should get you cleaned up before sending you off. I’ll have a bath drawn, see if we can’t locate some clean clothes that will fit and you’ll be set.”

"Whitefish pretty close to here?"  

“Yes, fairly, as the crow flies, so to say, perhaps an hour east.” Was his response as he pulled the tapestry panel that rang a bell elsewhere in the house, followed by the sound of scurrying, padded feet. A demure Chinese appeared. “Prepare a bath and locate something for here to wear on her way to Whitefish.” The Chinese merely bowed and disappeared in the direction he had come from.

A warsh’ll do me a world a good,” she said as she waited for servant to return, some of her Pittsburgh accent slipping out.  “Got pretty turned round out there.  Mighta gone clear to California if I hadn’t run into Billy and Greer.”

“Fortuitous that you did, California’s a long way.” Elias said. “Now, before we get much further along in this deal of ours. You’ll be hired same as the rest, forty a month, plus keep. Can’t expect you to bunk with the boys, so the hotel in Whitefish will be arranged in a letter I’ll send with you.” he gave pause to formulate his next words and decided to be frank. “You’ll be no whore for the Whitefish bunch, Case included, it’ll be plain in the letter. Any romantical situations you find yourself into will have to be of your own making. I’ll not have those men there prey upon you. Is that clear?”

The word 'Deputies' actually got a chuckle out of Elias. "No, I'm afraid not,, though when put upon they serve in that capacity from time to time. Let me be clear, I surmise that you are on the run, and those in my employ are a hairs breath from being on the run. So you have no worries about the law, unless it is my law!" His last words forceful to make the point.

"My son holds a tight rein over the town of Whitefish so that people such as yourself are welcome there, without worry. " He explained. "Get to the bath so you can head out for Whitefish before it gets a whole lot later."