The conversation with Misses Thornton-Carlton had been informative, though she had not said when these hands from the Lost Lake would be in town for supplies. In New Mexico Territory they generally went once a month, unless they were in need of something or they got word an order had come in, which was rare, the Apaches saw to that. No one was willing to take the chance . But this here might be different. The Lost Lake was not so far from town as the Lazy S was to Lordsburg, nor as dangerous.
So, the hotel looked to be the place he'd stay until these hands rode in, and it would certainly give him a chance to meet some folks, like she said, see who his allies were. And from, what he had learned so far, the trouble ran deep between the Lost Lake and this Evergreen Ranch, and then toss in the son and his pack of animals. Things could get terminal real quick. This was shaping up to be far more than he had bargained for when he left New Mexico. But he was there now, so he could run, or stay, and Tyrell Thornton was not much for running.
Stepping out of the newspaper Office, Ty turned and And headed up toward the sign, "Lickskillet Cafe." He was fond of the small cafe's as opposed to the larger restaurants in hotels, which he was aware of Kalispell having. He would try it of course, and he would stop in the saloon which he passed on his way to the cafe.
There were mountains, and there were tress everywhere, unlike the Lazy S. It was cooler of course, and there was moisture in the air, also unlike life on the Lazy S. He was acclimated from traversing nearly the length of the state. He liked this place, he liked the feel of the town without knowing anything of it's history early or recent, though he was about to find out more of what was going on.
He stepped through the door to the friendly tinkle of the bell announcing his arrival. There were folks about, but there were tables vacant as well. He located one near the back of the room and took a seat. This just might be his kind of place.
Clara looked up from pouring some steaming coffee into a customer's cup, just to see who might be the newest customer coming in. He was new alright, she had never seen the fellow before and she had a sharp memory for faces. A cowpoke by the look of him. That was neither good nor bad but it was a common enough sight in Kalispell. As she finished clearing away the customer's plate while he sipped his post meal coffee, the young brunette noticed the newcomer had gone and seated himself in the back of the room. And that was just fine, she well knew the fancy restaurants back east always had someone whose job it was to seat the customers. Well, not at the LickSkillet, she was normally manning the place all by herself with assistance some days from Lucinda.
It took but a couple minutes more before Clara approached the new customer who was keeping himself occupied by apparently studying the day's menu on the big chalkboard.
"Good day, sir. Welcome to the Lick Skillet Diner. How may I help you?" she reached into her apron and pulled out a notepad and pencil to take down any possible order.
"Howdy, Ma'am, well, lookin' at your chalkboard there, I'll have a beef steak, if you got 'em with either taters 'e bean an a slab of bread, butter too, if ya have it." He ordered, " Nice place ya got here. I like the small places. Not sure why, but I do. Big ones, well, just not as friendly."
He liked to look of the place how it was set up. they had done a nice job of having it open and warm at the same time. He would be in here often. There was no doubt that a place like this had good food, and he couldn't wait to try the coffee. His was good, but always seemed to pale to café coffee.
"Name's Tyrell Thornton." He said
Character: Clara Redmond-Lutz
"Howdy, Ma'am, well, lookin' at your chalkboard there, I'll have a beef steak, if you got 'em with either taters 'e bean an a slab of bread, butter too, if ya have it." He ordered, " Nice place ya got here. I like the small places. Not sure why, but I do. Big ones, well, just not as friendly."
He liked to look of the place how it was set up. they had done a nice job of having it open and warm at the same time. He would be in here often. There was no doubt that a place like this had good food, and he couldn't wait to try the coffee. His was good, but always seemed to pale to cafe coffee.
"Name's Tyrell Thornton." He said
Good, the man knew exactly what he wanted, no wasting time waffling about. Her sort of customer. She started scribbling his order.
"Beefsteak, very well. How would you like it done? Rare? Medium?"
Once he answered that she continued, "We have roasted potatoes . A helping of beans, yes. And bread of course. Yes, we serve butter too."
" Nice place ya got here. I like the small places. Not sure why, but I do. Big ones, well, just not as friendly," the man threw in a compliment, always appreciated.
"Oh thank you but to be honest, I am not the owner of this fine establishment. I am in charge while she is traveling with her husband, they were married...a while back," Clara informed him. She missed Emeline and if it hadn't been for her writing back on occasion and even sending gifts, she would have been worried sick about her well being gone this long. But she was glad they were having such a good time apparently.
"Name's Tyrell Thornton." He suddenly announced. Clara blinked.
"Thornton? Are you by any chance related to Shade Thornton from the Lost Lake Ranch?" It was not that common a surname after all.
"Thornton? Are you by any chance related to Shade Thornton from the Lost Lake Ranch?" It was not that common a surname after all.
"I am. Cousin to him, why I'm here." He said in response. "Sposed to look up Quentin Cantrell and see what's what out here. Been a long ride from New Mexico Territory I'll tell ya. But ya got nice country around here." He liked what he saw, and had since he got into the trees and away from the desert and the country just got better and better. He also realized that it offered more to him than a ride back south to the Lazy S. It had been a good place to be, that is until he arrived in Kalispell.
"Yep, jest might have to stay a while." He smiled up at her.
Character: Clara Redmond-Lutz
So he was indeed related! Interesting.
"Sposed to look up Quentin Cantrell and see what's what out here. Been a long ride from New Mexico Territory I'll tell ya. But ya got nice country around here."
"New Mexico? Well, that certainly is a prodigious jaunt," Clara was impressed.
"Yep, jest might have to stay a while." He smiled up at her.
"Well then, I take it you know where Shade and Mr. Cantrell live? They have a most impressive ranch some miles from here," Clara decided to point out.
"My father has a farm right on the edge of the Lost Lake property line so we are neighbors."
There was the slightest of pauses before she decided to reveal, "I know Shade quite well you see. I first met him when I pointed a fully loaded and cocked Dragoon Colt at him when he first rode up. You see one of his cows had been trampling our back garden."
"Well as far as my knowing where that ranch is, I was given an idea by Missus Thornton-Carlton, 'er some such. Seems we're related as well. But as for cousin Shade, no one rightly knows where he is, including me. He sent me a telegram askin' me to ride on up here, which took quite a spell. I'm waitin' on some men that work the place to come ta town." Ty explained.
Not knowing where Shade was, was of little concern to Ty, the message was plain enough, and from what he'd learned so far, what was happening here was none to complicated. Actually, it was fairly straight forward.
Now him staring down the muzzle of a Dragoon, that made him smile. "You did did you? Well, I'll mind my Pea's and Que's, that's for sure."
"I'll catch on with those boys when they get here and ride out to the place with 'em." He said with a smile. "So, you run this place then?"
Clara Redmond-Lutz
Well as far as my knowing where that ranch is, I was given an idea by Missus Thornton-Carlton, 'er some such. Seems we're related as well. But as for cousin Shade, no one rightly knows where he is, including me. He sent me a telegram askin' me to ride on up here, which took quite a spell. I'm waitin' on some men that work the place to come ta town." Ty explained.
"Oh I see. I myself have neither seen nor spoken to Shade for a long time so sorry but I can not clear up that particular mystery for you," Clara replied.
She related to the man about her and Shade first met, him trying to round up an errant cow (a bit late it might be said) and her pointing a gun at his intrusion or rather the cow's. Looking back on it, it was quite amusing and she thought he might find it so too.
"You did did you? Well, I'll mind my Pea's and Que's, that's for sure."
"You need not fret. The situation ended amiably enough and I assure you I have never shot anyone in my life and no desire to start either. Despite there being a few I thought richly deserved it," Clara declared.
"I'll catch on with those boys when they get here and ride out to the place with 'em." He said with a smile.
"I used to go out to the Lost Lake three times a week, Shade had hired me to tutor his niece and nephew til I tendered my resignation. Not because of the children, they were dears," she explained.
"So, you run this place then?"
Clara nodded, "Well yes, but only until Mrs. Emeline Pike returns, then I will happily return to being her assistant. She is a wonderful cook and baker, we get along quite well as a team."
"Oh dear....where are my manners? I should introduce myself. I am Clara ....well, Mrs. Clara Lutz."
Yes, she no doubt looked rather young to be married already but she was not afraid to reveal her situation and did not regret it for a moment.
Posted August 10, 2022
"Well Missus Clara Lutz, I'm pleased to make your acquaintance." Ty said with a smile. ""Believe this is gonna be a right pleasant stay here in Kalispell, well, depending on certain things being what they are. and what they'll become. I have no pl;ans to return to the Lazy S. Least ways, not for the foreseeable future. Fact is, I may just continue on to Oregon, gotta friend over there I'd like to see again."
That would be Molly McGuire. He had not forgotten the woman, not for a second, and as far as he knew, he would be forgetting her for a long time, unless all of this trouble blew over, and he could ride west to Oregon.
Clara Redmond-Lutz
"Pleasure to meet you too, sir. And I do believe that - if you choose to stay in Kalispell - you will find it a good place to settle down long term. As for Oregon, never been there but looking at a map, that is another long ride should you choose to go there," Clara responded, she knew her geography.
"Well, I really should go get to work on this beefsteak, the meal will not cook itself. Things are not busy right now so you should get your food shortly enough," she announced then headed for the kitchen in back.