"A hospital? Leah...Steelegrave?" From what she had heard, none of the Steelegraves had any redeeming qualities, so she couldn't help but wonder what the young woman was to. "Well, with the town and territory growing, we certainly could benefit from a hospital, and an orphanage...that would be amazing. I'd certainly be willing to help any way I can."
“I’d wager any and all help’d be welcomed.. Were’n’t no mention of Doc Boone from Whitefish, but they may not have told him of their plans yet.” He speculated. “Big job, a hospital. I’m sure the plans are grand.”
"And what did she want from you?"
His head dropped, looking at his coffee, then raised, looking her in the eye. “Gun hand.” He said simply. “Worried that her fathers riders’d be lookin’ ta cause trouble. She wuz gonna talk with Speed ta’day about it. Oh, an she has the right’a way fer the railroad as well.”
He was fearful of her response, what this might do to their relationship. Which he was not sure of, well, as she had responded to him when he was called to the meeting with Leah, he felt good about that. But he knew that there was going to be the high probability of gun trouble from the elder Steelgrave.
"A gun hand?" Instantly, she felt sick to her stomach and Emeline bit her lip. That was a good way for a man to get killed, or to get caught up in more than he bargained for, and the thought gave her chills. Still, she had no specific hold on him, or right to dissuade him, and even if she did, she wasn't sure it was good to steer a man away from what he wanted to do...and certainly washing dishes wasn't fulfilling for him.
"It shouldn't be too hazardous, should it?" She smiled and shook her head. "Who is going to try to stop a hospital and orphanage? When is she planning to start this?"
"A gun hand?"
He paused with sort of a pained look on his face, which faded as quickly as it came. It had been a poor choice of words when there were others with less sting to them. But they were out and he needed to deal with them.
"It shouldn't be too hazardous, should it?" She smiled and shook her head. "Who is going to try to stop a hospital and orphanage? When is she planning to start this?"
“Hard ta tell, depends on ‘lias Steelgrave and whot he decides ta have his men do. She figgers he’ll try an’ throw a wrench in the works.” He explained. “So, she’s lookin’ ta have some security with men who know what to do if they try. "
"Gun hand were a poor choice o’ words Em. Not ones I should have used. Ain’t gonna be no more dangerous then anything else that’s worth doin’. I’ll not deny it may come ta gun trouble, but then again, maybe not. I’m thinkin’ this town ain’t about ta let ol’ man Steelgrave ride roughshod over ‘em.”
"'sides," He concluded, "ain't startin' till the thaw."
Emeline nodded slowly. ...anything that’s worth doin’.
That said a lot, and certainly a hospital was 'worth doing', and she knew that few good things came without the prospect of sacrifice. Besides, Barnabas knew what he was doing, and after all, Andrew had been killed in a stupid mining accident, for nothing...life out here was dangerous, and a man had to stand up for what he believed was right.
"I suppose it will dissuade any trouble makers to have more men guarding the interests. And I'm glad she doesn't want you out in the Winter, you'd fall into a drift and we wouldn't find you until Spring thaw!"
"I suppose it will dissuade any trouble makers to have more men guarding the interests. And I'm glad she doesn't want you out in the Winter, you'd fall into a drift and we wouldn't find you until Spring thaw!"
“Tha’d be the idea. ‘cept’in it’s our idea an’ not theirs.” Was his reply. “Cain’t do no buildin’ in the winter, an’ fact is, ol’ man Steelgrave ain’t got wind of it yet. Come the thaw though, things’ll shape up differ’nt. ‘Course now, if he has him eyes an’ ears here, might find out afore the thaw, which I don’t like, since they’d be free ta figger a plan afore we get set. But I need ta parlay with Speed on this afore it goes any further."
"Well, I hope that man doesn't find out, and that the community here stands behind the project, even if it is Miss Steelegrave who is backing it." Emeline shook her head. "I'd like to think that the good people of Kalispell would overlook her family and see that she is trying to do something good."
Of course, some people weren't that charitable and could never bring themselves to overlook prejudice, no matter how noble the cause. "I'm sure that whatever you decide will be in the best interest of the community."
“Havin’ the folks with the say-so overlookin’ the Steelgrave name, from whot I hear, ain’t gonna be no easy task. Seems the family’s sortta bullied their way around here till they just ain’t welcome, though I hear they don’t mind the daughter too much.” He volunteered.
“This will shape up to a fight of one sort or another betwixt her an’ her pa. Question is do I wanna be involved in a corpse an’ cat’ ridge affair over this. with them Evergreen riders.” He covered her hand with his. "There's things whot gotta be done, I'm going over't the Marshal's office, have a chat with Speed."
"You have to do what is right, at least to your thinking," Emeline commented, not that she relished him getting involved in what amounted to a range war. But it sounded like Leah was earnest in her pursuit, and it was assuredly going to be an asset to the community, therefore worth fighting for.
"It would be more than just you three?" Taking a breath, she nodded slowly. "Whatever you decide..." Give her a shotgun and she'd join in!
"You have to do what is right, at least to your thinking," Emeline commented, not that she relished him getting involved in what amounted to a range war. But it sounded like Leah was earnest in her pursuit, and it was assuredly going to be an asset to the community, therefore worth fighting for.
“There’s the rub, I kin stand out of this affair, and let things go the way they will, or stand in an’ lend a hand. Maybe make a difference when needed.” He explained. Been in these scrapes before an’ it’s purdy much al’ays the same. Nobody figgers they’re gonna be kilt when it starts. Then it’s revenge fer those thet are.”
"It would be more than just you three?" Taking a breath, she nodded slowly. "Whatever you decide..." Give her a shotgun and she'd join in!
“No, there’s a couple men Miss Steelgrave has, an I figger there’ll be more that ain’t about ta let ‘lias Steelgraves riders have their way with the town. I don’t see thet hap’nin’, not at all.” He replied. “An’ I surely don’t see Speed Guyer backin’ down, no Ma'am I don’t.”
"You don't suppose Mr. Steelegrave would be so bold as to attack the town in general, do you?" If this project did, indeed, advance, she would have to be certain that she took precautions beyond the shotgun that she kept by the kitchen door. "I agree that there are many in the town who would stand up to them, but there is no doubt that people would die."
She'd heard of such things happening on occasion, but to think that she might be in the middle of something was frightening. Still, she wasn't the sort to be easily intimidated, although she was hopeful that it wouldn't come to stupid decisions on the part of Mr. Steelegrave.