“Now you know, you don’t have to go into the cell block with me.” He assured her. “I can dish it up and pass it through the bars to ‘em. Mostly I’d let ‘em starve, was it up to me. Maybe bread ad water, but your fine cooking, ain’t none of ‘em, includin’ Case Steelgrave deserves it.”
"It's all right." She managed a smile, knowing she had to do this to preserve her humanity. "It will give them a taste of what there is to miss in prison." Although she was practical enough to know that the robbers were going to hang...
He took her hand, “I’ll be just fine, sleepin’ on the floor’ll be a sight more uncomfortable than my bed at the boardin’ house, but it’ll have to do till the judge gets here. Then we’ll be free of ‘em, ‘cept maybe Case.”
"We'll never be free of that lot!" Grinning, Emeline shook her head. "Steelgraves are here to stay, I'm afraid."
“Oh, and Willis says they got the walls up on the first floor and covered, hangin’ the doors and windas tomorrow. I’ll ride on out there and lend a hand. She's comin' together.”
"Oh, good! I can't wait to see it again." It had been a time since she had been out to the house site, and part of her wanted to see it now and part of her wanted to wait until it was done. She locked the door behind them, then started for the jail. "Not much longer, and you won't be able to get rid of me!"
“Now I thought the idea was we agreed neither of us was up to being rid of the other. So when it comes to bein’ stuck, that ‘un goes both ways.” He was quick to point out. “And, seein’s how it’s already Friday, we could jest ride on out there on Sunday, after church. We ain’t taken the time to see the progress made for some time now, so it’ll be good we do that."
Pronto had been out to the place and lent a hand when he could, but recent events were keeping him close to town. He would work it out with Speed to get the time away to make the trip out and back.
“Now, no, we ain’t gonna be rid of the Steelgrave’s, not by a long shot. I’m afraid all that’s been done is was we stuck a stick in a hornets nest an’ gave her a good stir!” He agreed. “Now Miss Leah, she’d be a differn’t cut. Her an’ them two doc’s, they got them a plan to do some good ‘round here. Whether folks like it or not.”
"I Just can't fathom how people can be so petty as to object to a hospital or an orphanage," Emeline murmured as they strolled toward the jail, "although I suppose there are people who can't get past Leah's name, but it's just sad."
She'd certainly offer what help she could. "A hospital should be welcome, there's nothing like that between here and Helena."
She took a couple of deep breaths as they stepped up onto the boardwalk in front of the jail, then plastered on a smile. "I'd love to go see the house on Sunday, and I'm sure Noel would enjoy the ride. I'll make us a lunch, and maybe a couple pies for the workmen...bribes never hurt!"
Standing back, she waited for him to open the door.
"I Just can't fathom how people can be so petty as to object to a hospital or an orphanage," Emeline murmured as they strolled toward the jail, "although I suppose there are people who can't get past Leah's name, but it's just sad."
“I agree, Em. I figure who cares who wants to build a hospital, really, what difference does it make. And I heard tell he name ain’t even goin’ on it. Wants to call it Kalispell Hospital, ‘er Flathead County Hospital. This ain’t about her name.” He was shaking his head. “Guess when they have the Town Council meeting we’ll find out what’s what, an’ why.”
She'd certainly offer what help she could. "A hospital should be welcome, there's nothing like that between here and Helena."
They had reached the Municipal Building, which was only locked after business hours. Pike stepped up on the boardwalk, offered Emeline his hand, then said. “No need for you to go back there, but if that’s what you want to do, don’t worry none.”
She took a couple of deep breaths as they stepped up onto the boardwalk in front of the jail, then plastered on a smile. "I'd love to go see the house on Sunday, and I'm sure Noel would enjoy the ride. I'll make us a lunch, and maybe a couple pies for the workmen...bribes never hurt!"
He stopped by the office long enough to get the key and take off his guns. “Then that’s what we’ll do. And you’re right, it’ll be good for the two of us to go out there.” Then, he led her to the cell block door.
Standing back, she waited for him to open the door.
"Back up." He ordered as they entered. "The lady's gonna dish it up, an' I do the handin' out."
At first, Emeline concentrated on spooning stew onto plates, placing a biscuit, and handing them to Barnabas, but finally she stopped and turned to face the men in the cells, looking at them intently, showing no sign of fear. Then she glanced at Barnabas with a small smile before resuming her task.
"There's pie," she commented evenly, looking back at the cells, "so leave room if you'd like some." She was ready to leave now, having looked the bank robber in the eye, letting him know that he hadn't won. As for Case, she wasn't sure why he was on that side of the bars, but she was sure he wasn't happy about it, but maybe a decent meal would ease the embarassment.
"Eat up boys, I'll be back for them plates and spoons right shortly." Barnabas stated as he touched Emeline's arm to usher her out. There was a rush of pride at how she faced down Bill Marley. Granted he was behind bars, but the trauma of such things as being held hostage as she was sometimes lingered on.
Once outside the cell block he looked to her. "You done good in there with Marley. Made him feel even worse seein' you wasn't afraid of him, or of what happened." They entered the office and he continued, "Now, it dawned on me that I'm on for the night, means Speed's on tommara night. Sundy could be kinda sketchy fer Sunday, dependin', I'll surely talk to him in the mornin when he shows up." Of course, if all things are quiet, his riding out to the property should not be a problem.
"Do what you have to, of course." Emeline smiled at him as they started back for the cafe, although she was walking slowly to drag out their time together. "I know you have your responsibilities, and you know you can come in and get some pie whenever you like."
He had a key to the cafe, and of course was welcome to raid the kitchen any time he wanted to, and she had promised to make sure it wasn't him before shooting at any midnight intruders!
"I'd enjoy going out to the homestead Sunday. Let me know for certain and I'll pack a lunch. We can take the horses, I don't mind. Tell Marshal Guyer I'll bake him an apple pie if he lets you go!" Bribes never hurt!
"Do what you have to, of course." Emeline smiled at him as they started back for the cafe, although she was walking slowly to drag out their time together. "I know you have your responsibilities, and you know you can come in and get some pie whenever you like."
“Now that there’s a right nice idea. But mostly once the office is closed we’ll have the door bolted. One of the bank robbers did get away, that’s for sure, but we don’t expect one man’ll try to bust him out.” Barnabas explained. “But Case? Now that there’s a horse of a different color all together. We’ll be on our toes
He had a key to the cafe, and of course was welcome to raid the kitchen any time he wanted to, and she had promised to make sure it wasn't him before shooting at any midnight intruders!
"I'd enjoy going out to the homestead Sunday. Let me know for certain and I'll pack a lunch. We can take the horses, I don't mind. Tell Marshal Guyer I'll bake him an apple pie if he lets you go!" Bribes never hurt!”
“Speed, he might jest be enticed by that offer, ‘cept I believe I heard him say rhubarb, he was partial to rhubarb pie. But I’ll ask an’ see what he says. Couldn’t hurt none.” He was grinning at the last. He was concerned about what the Evergreen might try, and the had some men, how many they might commit to a nighttime jail break, he had no idea. Not even Elias would attempt anything in broad daylight.
"Rhubarb it is!" Emeline smiled brightly as they stopped outside the door to the cafe. "I'll get started on that, it will keep me occupied."
She gave Barnabas a kiss on the cheek then continued. "I'll keep the doors locked and the shotgun close. You promise you will take care and not do anything stupid." Not that she would promise that if something town-wide started she wouldn't get involved.
"Case Steelgrave isn't worth losing good lives over, please keep that in mind?" She kissed him again, full on the lips, hoping this wouldn't be the last time.
"Rhubarb it is!" Emeline smiled brightly as they stopped outside the door to the cafe. "I'll get started on that, it will keep me occupied."
“Well, that oughtta put a smile on his face. And I think I’ll be able to get away, for a few hours anyway.” One thing he knew for sure was that getting away, taking her up to see the progress that had been made would do them both good.
She gave Barnabas a kiss on the cheek then continued. "I'll keep the doors locked and the shotgun close. You promise you will take care and not do anything stupid." Not that she would promise that if something town-wide started she wouldn't get involved.
“Well, I doubt I’ll be leaving the jail tonight. But the idea of being able to sneak in for pie, well, that’s purty darn tempting.” He admitted. "This boys Ma didn't raise any children to be doin' anything stupid. Count on that!"
"Case Steelgrave isn't worth losing good lives over, please keep that in mind?" She kissed him again, full on the lips, hoping this wouldn't be the last time.
As they pulled back he looked her in the eye ad said, “I don’t intend to lose my life over him ‘er anyone else. They built that place with security in mind, though I’m sure it was built not thinking they’d need to worry about jail breaks, it just worked out that way.”