"We'd swing tagether, that'd be the outcome. Afraid Speed'd insist" He replied. Well, they ain't payin' me ta be lollygaggin' with the purtiest gal in town. Best get on down to the jail, get to the day's business."
"All right, then, Mr. Pike." Smiling, Emeline kissed him on the cheek. "Be careful, and you know where to find me." She was still getting used to his profession, but at least she had her work to distract her. As he left, she started gathering the dishes so she could get back to work.
"All right, then, Mr. Pike." Smiling, Emeline kissed him on the cheek. "Be careful, and you know where to find me." She was still getting used to his profession, but at least she had her work to distract her. As he left, she started gathering the dishes so she could get back to work.
The thunder of hooves on the hard packed street drew Pike’s attention as he whirled to look out the window as the cavalcade of riders passed by. “What the sam hell?” He asked as he started to move, recognizing a couple of the men as Evergreen riders. “Damn!” and he was moving.
"I have no doubt, considering Miss Steelgraves tenacity." Jonah chuckled, nodding to Emeline as she sat his food down, then refilled both men's mugs with hot coffee. "Thank you." He turned his attention back to Amos. "Most of the logistics are in the works, but the city council just needs some convincing." He shook his head. "Politicians!"
Amos’ head snapped up at the sound, his eyes darting to Speed’s deputy and his reaction. This was trouble! Trouble for his fried, no doubt. “‘scuse me Doc, looks ta be trouble, best I go see if I might lend a hand.” Amos said as he rose, dropping a half dollar on the rough hewn table top, worn smooth from use as he moved toward the door.
At first, the sounds of so many horses roaring into town wasn't particularly alarming, after all, there were always groups coming in from the outlying ranches, although it was a bit unusual this time of day. But when she saw Barnabas' reaction, and the newcomer jumped up and dashed out, she felt a chill spike of fear go through her.
Glancing around at the few remaining customers, she darted for the front door, snatching up the shotgun she kept there. "Everyone just stay inside," she chided as she herself stepped onto the boardwalk out front, closing the door behind her as she stood guard, ready to do whatever she had to, and anxiously watching Barnabas.
Across the street she could see Addy coming out of the big Millegan Stage barn, then ducking back in and reappearing a moment later, brandishing her own shotgun. Emeline caught her eye and gave her a slight nod. Then she spotted the three men at the hotel, professional gunmen, if she wasn't mistaken.
These men were up against more than they bargained for, and Emeline could only hope that they had the good sense to just ride out.
Inside the diner, Jonah was more than happy to stay where he was. He was no gunslinger, and was only armed with a two-shot derringer, worthless in this sort of situation. Of course, the noble thing to do would be to insist that the lady owner turn over the shotgun and her spot to him, but what if there really was trouble and a doctor was needed?
Pike was at the Lickskillet in minutes. He came through the door looking for Emeline, and spotted her quickly. As he strode toward he he said, "So you took up a shotgun to get out there and get yerself shot? After we jest went out to the spread yesterday? What was you thinkin' aside from you thought you'd be protectin' me from them jack wagons?" He simply shook his head. "Whot am I gonna do with you, woman?"
"I was protecting my business," Emeline defended, squaring up her shoulders. Yes, she'd been watching him, praying that he stayed safe, but regardless of their relationship, she would have been out there on the boardwalk, ready to get involved if the need arose...you didn't survive long as a woman alone in these parts without some resolve and backbone, and she wasn't about to let rowdies tear up her town!
"You can take care of yourself, and I know that!" She was a bit riled, maybe a little angry that Barnabas seemed to be chiding her. Certainly, he knew she wasn't the sort to stand by and watch, and he'd have to accept that, as much as she had to accept that his job put him in constant danger, and every time he left, she'd never see him again.
His last words, though, a subtle way of saying he understood, had tempered her anger and she reached for his hand. "I will only intervene if it's absolutely necessary," she assured him, "but I won't be idle."
His last words, though, a subtle way of saying he understood, had tempered her anger and she reached for his hand. "I will only intervene if it's absolutely necessary," she assured him, "but I won't be idle."
Barnabas backed up a step at her response to his words, words that might have been too harsh, words that might have sounded different than he meant.
“Whoa now, just a minute here. I might outta’ve taken my words a bit more carefully than I did. I meant nothin’ by it, ‘cept maybe that I, well, I know how these things can go, an’ how innocent folks can get shot up in a exchange’a gunfire, which surely would have been tumultuous! I do got a job that’s dangerous, but you ain’t supposed to be in harms way while I’m about it.”
“I know you were thinkin’ of me an’ my safety, all I meant was I worry about you alla time. An’ bein’ out there like that, well, I can’t lose you. Not now ‘er ever.”
"That goes both ways, Barnabas," Emeline countered, "I finally found something good, and I don't want to lose it." Although it dawned on her that if he was distracted worrying about her, that put him at more risk.
"I didn't count on the man that I fell in love with becoming a deputy, and I don't know how to reconcile that, except that I know that anything can happen to anyone at any time, and there is no way to predict that or stop it."
Of course, law enforcement put a man at higher risk, but she wasn't a widow because of that.
"I'll try to use discretion, that is the most I can promise." He'd have to accept that as much as she accepted his choice of professions.
"That goes both ways, Barnabas," Emeline countered, "I finally found something good, and I don't want to lose it." Although it dawned on her that if he was distracted worrying about her, that put him at more risk.
"I didn't count on the man that I fell in love with becoming a deputy, and I don't know how to reconcile that, except that I know that anything can happen to anyone at any time, and there is no way to predict that or stop it."
“None a’tall, it’s the times we live in, Em, “‘ceptin’ Kalispell’s mostly a quiet town where trouble ain’t like some’a the places I been. Like the bank job, when’d that ever happened here? Cse, well, Case went a huntin’ for it, an’ he found it.” He explained as best he could.
“Them riders now, I doubt they’d’ve went for their guns, what with all the men behind them. Now before you say it, that was luck ta have Miss Steelgrave’s men an’ that Amos fella there, but that’s how it was. Goldang it Em, I love you an’ I want you ta be safe."
Of course, law enforcement put a man at higher risk, but she wasn't a widow because of that.
"I'll try to use discretion, that is the most I can promise." He'd have to accept that as much as she accepted his choice of professions.
“Alright, guess a man cain’t ask fer more’n that. I’m sorry I spoke harshly to ya. Caught up in te moment I ‘spose.” He apologized.
"You can speak harshly whenever you think it's necessary." Smiling, Emeline wrapped her arms around his chest. "I'd expect no less from a man who loves me. I just need to get used to having someone take care of me again, and you need to understand that I've been taking care of myself for a few years..."
It was going to take some time to adjust, but Emeline was sure that she and Barnabas would work things out in all the petty squabbles.
"I'm glad nothing happened today...and I'm glad to know that there are other men who are willing to step up and help you...well, and Miss Addy, too, but I'd put her up against any man in a gun fight!"
"You can speak harshly whenever you think it's necessary." Smiling, Emeline wrapped her arms around his chest. "I'd expect no less from a man who loves me. I just need to get used to having someone take care of me again, and you need to understand that I've been taking care of myself for a few years..."
“I don’t intend to make a habit of it. Sure, I reckon you been dealin’ with life by yerself fer a spell now. And you need to know I’ll be he one shoulderin’ the hash things from here on out.” He drawled, trying to assure her of his intentions to care for, and protect her.
It was going to take some time to adjust, but Emeline was sure that she and Barnabas would work things out in all the petty squabbles.
"I'm glad nothing happened today...and I'm glad to know that there are other men who are willing to step up and help you...well, and Miss Addy, too, but I'd put her up against any man in a gun fight!"
“Quite a surprise about Miss Steelgrave’s men. I mean, they all rode together at one time. Reckon that could have turned real nasty had one of ‘em been stupid. An’ yer surely right about Addy, as well as yerself. I wouldn’t buck either one of ya with them scatter guns!” He remarked. “I doubt they’ll be comin’ back, Speed made that plain as day, specially with the trial comin’ up.”