“I’d have no idee whot he’d do in a given situation.” Barnabas replied honestly. “Was I ta know him better I might well have a thought about it. But I figger his riders’d be the ones whot’d be in play. They’d be actin’ on orders, likely specific orders to do something specific.” He paused.
“But attack the whole town, I doubt thet. Ain’t never worked out as planned. Folks tend to stand up ta thet sort of thing. Not since the days of Quantrill an’ his ilk, but thet was ‘spose ta be war. They come a huntin’ trouble, well, these folks’ll fetch it to ‘um right proper.”
"And then innocent people will die for no reason." Emeline shrugged and sighed. "Well, if Miss Steelegrave has a good force on her side, as well as the support of the town, maybe that will make her father think twice."
It was one thing to go against regular folk with no experience, but to have a trained force at the forefront, that was something else. "Of course, if he is sending out lackeys to do his dirty work, Mr. Steelegrave has no stake in what happens." Men like that were cowards, but that was hard to fight.
“Steelgrave ain’t no fool, but word is with both wife and daughter gone from him, he’s not been rational of late. Thet makes him dangerous. But with men whot know whot needs ta be done, wall, thet does make a differ’nce.” Pike said. “‘course most were in the war ‘cept fer the younger ones, maybe. Jest eleven years from the surrender, an’ granted, most that was out west here weren’t in the frey. But outlaws is outlaws, an’ plumb dangerous.”
He smiled at her, “Yer right as rain though, most ‘er cowards, do real well in a bunch, not so good on their own when push comes ta shove. We’ll be fine, the two thet pulled away from the old man, they’re tough men, an’ Guyer, he’ll stand. Maybe we get a couple more ta rally ‘round this hospital buildin’ idea, an’ we’ll be fine.”
"I'd stand with you," Emeline commented with conviction, "I can handle a shotgun, and I don't like being bullied." If that made a difference...she knew he wouldn't care for any of the women in town to have to put up a fight, particularly her, but it was everyone's town, and they all had a stake in what happened.
"If he gives us trouble, I can just woo Mr. Steelegrave with a pie!" She grinned, then shrugged. "Hopefully this is much ado about nothing, but I could use with some practice shooting, it's been a very long time."
Before they had left Illinois, Andrew had made certain that she could handle both pistols and shotguns, but fortunately, she'd never had to do more than hold one and stand firm, and while she hoped she never did had to fire at a living being, she knew she would if she had to.
"I'd stand with you," Emeline commented with conviction, "I can handle a shotgun, and I don't like being bullied." If that made a difference...she knew he wouldn't care for any of the women in town to have to put up a fight, particularly her, but it was everyone's town, and they all had a stake in what happened.
“Not sure that’d be a real good idee.” He balked. “I mean I appreciate what yer sayin'. Was there to be real trouble of the sort I suspect his boys to bring, havin’ you in the fracas, well, I’d be distracted an’ that’d be dangerous. I mean ta say, I’d be worried was you involved an’ not near as careful as I should be, which could be serious.” There were other words that better described the danger, but he shied away from them.
"If he gives us trouble, I can just woo Mr. Steelgrave with a pie!" She grinned, then shrugged. "Hopefully this is much ado about nothing, but I could use with some practice shooting, it's been a very long time."
“Now, thet there’s a certainty.” He said with a smile. “Doubt there’s a livin’ bein' thet’d turn down one a’ yer pies, Em.” He breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well, then, just send him my way and I'll feed him pie, and while he's eating, I'll knock some sense into him with a rolling pin!" She laughed, then shrugged. "If you see Miss Steelegrave again, tell her I'd be happy to help any way I can. She can come by and we can discuss it. Even if it's just meals for workers."
It was a good cause, and the more support Leah had from the community, the better, and maybe that would make her father think twice before giving her a hard time.
"Well, then, just send him my way and I'll feed him pie, and while he's eating, I'll knock some sense into him with a rolling pin!" She laughed, then shrugged. "If you see Miss Steelegrave again, tell her I'd be happy to help any way I can. She can come by and we can discuss it. Even if it's just meals for workers."
“I see you doin’ jest thet. As fer Miss Steelgrave, I kin do thet, actually be a good idee. Workers gotta eat, and I’m purdy sure she’d be considerin’ thet the closer it gets to start time.” He said in agreement.
It was a good cause, and the more support Leah had from the community, the better, and maybe that would make her father think twice before giving her a hard time.
He was thinking that there was always the possibility that nothing would happen from the Evergreen, that Elias Steelgrave would let well enough alone. It was possible, maybe not probable, but possible.
"If it will help encourage her in her endeavors, I'd be happy to help." Emeline was new enough in town to not really have first-hand knowledge of the Steelegraves, but she certainly wanted to support the young woman's attempt to separate herself from a bad reputation. Besides, she was curious about the woman anyway.
"And in any event, if you want to help her, I think that's an honorable idea." Potentially frightening, but he had to do what he thought was right, and she had no call to be selfish in wanting to keep him safe.
Pike realized that there was a lot more between them than either was willing to admit. He knew that even though she seemed agreeable to his helping Leah Steelgrave, he doubted that she really understood the danger involved. Yet, if she did, and she was a smart woman, and still stood by his decision, then this certainly was the woman for him.
"We'll see how this shakes out when the time comes, but if'n Guyer gets involved, as his depity it'll be my duty to step up, an to, I have to meet with her and give her my decision. Might jest bring you along an' you kin tell yer offer in person."