"Yes Ma'am, that'd be good. Lookin' forward to a cup of coffee I didn't boil myself, and a meal I didn't cook myself. As he watched her walkaway he spotted a copy of the local paper laying hear by, so he scooped it up and began reading up on things,

A man can learn a lot by reading what's written. It seemed there was to be an election coming up and Mister McVay had a rather low opinion of a couple folks in the running, plus this Crabbe fella that passed on. Yes there was a lot to learn about a town by what was written, and from what he gathered about Mister McVay, he was opinionated to be sure, and he was more than welling to state his feelings on matters he believed in, but nothing about the Thornton-Steelgrave feud.

He set the paper aside as he saw the young lady coming toward him with a steaming coffee, a welcome sight.

"Thank you, Ma'am, and I doubt you'll need to twist my arm to give that pie a try. Haven't had pie in months." He said, and the coffee is just right." He looked at the sizzling piece of beef on the plate, his mouth watering from the smell, that some beans and fried potato chucks to go with it. "Yes Ma'am, this looks mighty fine, indeed." And with that he cut a slice and forked it to his mouth.

He had not had a meal like this in too long, not even in Atlantic city. There had been deer, antelope and some elk, but not a lot of any of it with so many mouths to beef. Bartholomew Quinlan had managed to provide until the weather broke and folks could be on their way.

And that brought to mind Molly McGuire. He wondered if they had made Oregon alright, if there had been any trouble along the way. He meant to head that way as soon as this trouble in Kalispell blew over, as it usually did. He needed to see if he could find her. He had a likeness of her. A small picture, but it would have to do for a spell.

The plate was cleaned and he raised his had as she had asked. It was time to try that pie she had mentioned and another cup of that coffee.

"Rhubarb? You have Rhubarb pie?" Ty asked in surprise as he had not heard of, let alone had rhubarb pie in!years. "Ma'am, A slab of that pie and some more 'o your coffee, why that would surely fill the bill, it would!"

He was still shaking his head in disbelief at the news. Pie he simply loved! "Miss, uh Missus, 'scuse me, but you've made this old cowboy mighty happy!" He added.

The next thing He did, which he cursed himself for not doing in the minute he reached town was to walk his horse and pack mule to the livery to see about putting them up. The animal had carried him a far piece and through all kinds of weather along the way. Some pretty country to be sure, well worth the ride.

He entered the livery and a voice called out, "Here in der back." The the ring of a hammer on steel. Ty ground hitched his horse and mule, then walked back to where the smithy was hard at it.

"Howdy, need ta put my horse and pack animal up, mister." Ty announced.

"Vell, you come right place. two bits a day, feed and grain. You tend to currying." The man said, pausing from his task. "I am Gunther Schmidt, you are?"

"Tyrell Thornton, late of Lordsburg, New Mexico Territory. Glad to meet you."

"Thornton? You come to take over the Lost Lake Ranch?" Gunther asked, setting the hammer on the anvil.

Ty laughed, "Nope. Belongs to my cousin, he asked me to come help out with whatever's goin' on."

Gunther gave him a hard stare, "Dere's dose won't like you much, a Thronton, you watch yourself."

"I've heard that already. Seems my cousin ain't real popular in certain parts of this country. But thanks for the advice, I plan on stayin' healthy." He stated, "So just find an open stall?"

"Yes sir, you do dat. I collect end of da veek. Maybe your horse an mule like extra oats? I take care of dem." Gunther offered.

"Thanks gunther. Appreciate it. He's traveled a ways, that's for sure." Before he finished Gunther had shoved the horseshoe he was working back in the fire, Ty walked back to his horse and mule, led him to the first open stalls, luckily together, where he stripped off the saddle, blanket and tack, then the pack and pack saddle. He haltered his horse with a lead rope, securing both animals and then, one by one, rubbing them down.

That done, he took up his saddle bags and Winchester and walked to the hotel. Stepping inside, he looked around, there was nothing like this in Lordsburg.

Timeline: Next Morning

Morning dawned fresh and cool. Tyrell stood on the porch of the hotel, a cup of coffee from the dining room in his hand. He was glad the dining room was open so early, there was no wait and everything was done quickly. The ham and eggs were perfect, the coffee hot and strong. The room, all a man could expect from a first rate hotel. Again, nothing like Lordsburg, not the hotel there was bad, just not as fancy. But then that town was growing, and would soon enough have first rate accommodations as well.

The street was, for the most part, empty, though he was sure than within the hour traffic would increase, both on the boardwalk and the in the hard packed dirt street. There were shopkeepers out sweeping the boardwalk, bringing out items to display in an effort to attract customers. He smiled, hard working folks, doing what they could to provide for their families, as well as provide for the town.

He took the last swallow of the coffee and stepped back inside to put the cup on the table he had used, then, up to his room to retrieve his Winchester. It was a grand morning for a ride, and if those Lost Lake riders came to town, well, they would be there for a while, or at least that was what he hoped. He left the hotel and cross ed the street, headed for the livery and his horse. He thought to ride north a ways, just to have a look-see at the country around the town. He already liked what he saw.

"I hear tell you're a Thornton. I heard you're from New Mexico Territory, that right?" a voice from behind him asked.

Ty turned half around, Winchester still in his hand. 'Yep, I am, and yep from the Territories. Help you with somethin'?"

"No, just asking. I understand anyone of that name could find himself in some real trouble with the Steelgraves. Just what I was told. Ain't that a damned shame?" The man said.

"I've heard the same things. Not sure why that is, like I said, I'm from the Territories, so whatever these folks have goin', I wouldn't know. Likely I ain't actually related to them, Then again, could be, but thanks for the warning."

"Oh now, don't go thinking that warnings from me? I'm just quotin' what I'd heard is all." The man stated holding up his hands as if in defense. "You have yourself a nice ride if that's what you're about."

Ty smiled, "I will. Thanks Mister." And with that the man moved on, Ty looking after him. thinking it strange that he'd be approached at this time of the day.

Ty mounted and headed out at a walk, the street showing some signs of life as he made his way north. A good long ride in the fresh morning air might just be the ticket, He had never been one for towns, oh, they were fine, offered things that were a necessity, rooms and such. A saloon for a drink or two whenever he was in town. But other than that, he always tended to fight shy of the clapboard buildings.

The conversation from the stranger stuck with him as he rode along. "I understand anyone of that name could find himself in some real trouble with the Steelgraves." He had heard those same rumors, or were they more like facts? What had Shade done to draw this kind of ire? And why would whatever this was be a threat to anyone with the Thornton name? Once again he was asking himself just what was it he had ridden into?

The trail widened out once he left town and there was less trees for a ways and he was able to see some of the country. There was a farm to his left but that soon fell away and what was left was forested country. There was a trail off to his right, not much more than a game trail so he took it. Seeing country was something he enjoyed, and the addition of trees made it all the more interesting. Oh the high country in the Territories had tress, but they were far from the Lazy S, and there was little call to head that way. Just something off in the distance.

He stopped and took out the makings, it was a small clearing with sunlight filtering down through the trees, A nice place to roll up and enjoy a smoke. He was proficient at rolling one handed, but then most all cattlemen who spent time in the saddle could roll a smoke with one hand. The licked the edge of the paper, twisted both ends, the drew out a match, struck it on the horn and lit it up.

So the problem was a fight between the Thorntons and the Steelgraves. One family lost someone and the fight was on, that the way it shaped up. Now which side was right, and which wrong, no longer mattered. Blood feuds could last for years, which this may well have. This was far from anything he had wanted to tie into, but, family was family, and if it came, he was bound by blood to stand and fight. This was gun trouble.

It had been a good ride, and early enough that there had not been that many folks out, however, on the way back, rigs could be see in front and behind him on their way to town for whatever business they had, be it supplies, or banking, or any number of things.

It wasn't like traffic was crowded on the trail, perhaps three, maybe four rigs spread out and a horseman or two, it was some early as yet, but an early start was important to many a rancher or farmer, giving them more time during the remainder of the day to get their chores finished. It had been that way on the Lazy S, except for the long ride into Lordsburg. That was all but a day picking up supplies.

He turned into the main street and thought he would treat himself, breakfast at the hotel. Yes it would cost a bit more, but he was still flush, or as flush as he .ad ever been. Hopefully this Mike Wentworth would be one of the men on the trail for supplies for Lost Lake Ranch. It seemed silly for him to just bide his time when he had been asked to come there, but whatever was necessary.

He tied up in from of the Hotel and went inside, looking forward to a good breakfast.