"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Speed smiled, "Charlie, you'll do just fine. Town's quiet, like normal. Finishing up that paperwork is a good idea. And remember, you have two men inside with all the experience in the world."
Speed knew that Charlie needed to be left in charge, it was a part of the job. He also knew that taking time to go to the mine would not sit well with some, and in the end, he may not have the job anyway. However, the need of supplies and material for the operation was a necessity if they were going to get it up and running.
"I won't be doing this with any regularity after this trip. So it won't be no regular thing." He added. "See you when I get back."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"Now this trip Guyer made to the fort, smart thinking. Not saying there won't be problems with them owl hoots, but regular patrols, now that'll help." Cook offered. "Maybe keep 'em at bay."
"Sure thing, Army blue's a real deterrent 'cuz where there's a patrol, there's a comp'ny 'o soldiers, an' they got no jurisdiction problems. They can chase ya from hell ta breakfast if they want. King me." McNue added as he jumped Cooks red man with his black.
"I'm thinkin' it'll give pause to those wantin' ta cause problems for the lady." Cook agreed. "What he's done by goin' to the fort is strengthened his hand. So instead of us, them three gun hands, and his depities when the other'un gets back, he's added at least of company of reinforcements."
"Slick thinkin'. Leave us to be a bit more free with how we do things. Though, I don't see them hangin' around waitin' for a chance, more like they wait and strike at night, in a rush, and gone in a rush, that what we'll need to be on the look out for." McNue revealed his thoughts.
"Yep, and I hope you didn't have any plans for the checker sittin' there, or that other one neither." Cook stated, making a double jump on McNue's exposed peices. "I'll be interested in what Guyers plan is for this thing. Building a hospital, now that will take some doin', an' if I ain't mistaken, she'll burn if they get flame to it."
"Gonna need a powerful bucket brigade, 'course now, it depends when it get's tried how much damage it'll do." McNue worried.
"I got me a thought, we finish this game an' I believe I'll sent a wire east." Cook promised.
"I'm headin' for the telegraph office and get that wire in the wind, we'll know soon enough what's what." Cook said as he stood.
"Cain't do no harm in askin', I mean, worst he can say is no. Not likely he'd call us back for asking about no pumper with all that might happen now that the hospital's been signed, sealed, an' dee-livered to thet young woman." McNue pointed out.
"Be back." He announced and strode out the door for what he saw as an important mission. Cook could see having a pumper as a deterrent to setting anything, especially the hospital on fire. Under normal circumstances it would not be necessary, but conditions there were anything but normal in Kalispell and Cook believed that the Governor was well aware of that fact.
His wire read; 'Governor Houser, I am requesting funds to appropriate a hand pumper to protect the town and the hospital from arson. Terr. Marshal John Cook'
He would know soon enough what could be done.
Helena Montana, Territorial Governors Office:
Dutton Peabody was first to see the telegram from Marshal John Cook requesting funds to buy a hand pumper fire apparatus for the town of Kalispell. It came as no shock to the attorney. Hardly, they were dealing with Elias Steelgrave who would stop at nothing, it was believed, to get whatever he wanted, including the destruction of the hospital, which could mean the burning down of the entire town.
He raced as best he could to Governor Houser's office and threw open the door, bursting in waving the yellow paper. "Tom, Tom, John Cook sent you this," He said all but winded from his jaunt.
Thomas Houser took the message and hurriedly read it. He looked up, "Fear of a fire purposely set?" He asked already knowing the answer, and who they were dealing with. It was a real possibility that a fire could be set, and as with most fires, quickly become out of control! "I need Harold Ostage in here, we have to do something about this, and fast."
"Construction has yet to start. They've hired Mason Aldrich's company, and have not left yet, but I would bet they had materials closer to Kalispell." Dutton explained, then went out to find the Territorial Treasurer with whom Thomas was already at loggerheads over spending.
Thomas sat back, another problem they did not need, among a mountain of them.
Dutton burst into Harold Ostage's office. "Harold, the Governor needs to see you, an emergency." He said.
"That means he want's money for something." Harold implied with a dower tone of voice. "Dutton, the budget is stretch so thin you can almost see through it. He may not know this but we are nearly bordering on a deficit, and this is an election year you know."
"We are all aware of that Harold. It has been a costly year, and there was thing that could be done to avoid that." Dutton stated.
"Never mind, gentlemen, I reviewed the budget and I can plainly see where I cannot ask for the money needed, but I damn sure can buy a pumper and get it up to Kalispell!" Territorial Governor Thomas Houser said as he entered the office.
"Oh hold on Governor, hold on. I do believe that in the Civic Improvements budget there is a surplus, the only one with a surplus." Harold informed the pair. "Now, all you need to do is find one!"
"Dutton, find me a pumper, we'll work out the details of the purchase later. Do not say it is for the Territory, that will raise the price, saying it is for a small town like Kalispell might well serve us better." Houser ordered.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
With everyone back in the office and looking to one another for suggestions it was John Cook who spoke up; "Someone said something about competition for Case Steelgrave, I disagree." Speed and Bill McNue looked at him. "What if this was a new tactic for him. What if this is a much simpler plan he has to confuse us. Here we jump to conclusions and it's the plan all along, just take part of the herd, a little from everyone."
"What sense does that make?" Bill asked. "There's no money in stealin' part of a herd."
"That's right." Speed agreed, "but what if he does not need the money." No one spoke, they looked at the man, brows furrowed. "We've heard about the rash of bank jobs, what if those are Steelgrave's men? Now I don't pretend to know where he found men that rob banks, because his men are rustlers and worse, but I've never heard of any of those that ride with him being bank robbers."
"Don't seem likely, no." Cook stated flatly. "I think your reachin' there Speed. It would make sense that he doesn't need the cash, that his boys'd go along with no pay while they torment the local ranchers."
"After the debacle down south, I don't see where he don't need the money. So I'm thinkin' that this is another gang, smaller, not as seasoned as Steelgrave's boys." McNue threw in. That garnered some head nodding.
Case not needing cash? Just a bit too far fetched.
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"So maybe we do have another outfit horning in on Case's territory, not that we have any real proof that he was behind the previous rustling. but if that is true then what I'm thinking is Case and his boys will want to make short work of these intruders." Speed observed.
"Makes sense." McNue agreed, "Your Mister Steelgrave don't strike me as the kind who shares."
"He don't, no. so if there's interlopers, then there'll be consequences. Trying to unseat Case as the kingpin of the territory will not be easily done, and that why I have my doubts about another gang." Speed reiterated. It could get really bloody if in fact that is the case here. But if not, why the small raids on these spreads? What does Case have to gain? There's something at play here that we're just not seeing."
John Cook leaned back in his chair, "Now, here's a thought, if there's another raid fairly soon that may point to another outfit, but it shorely don't gar'ntee there is one. If the man has a plan for these small raids then there's no tellin' what he's up to."
Just what was going on?
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"It sort of gives me the willies, trying to just figure out what the man has in mind, whatever it is, if there is just him running this plan, what's in it for him?" Was Speed's question.
"I kin see him doin' this just ta aggre-vate us." McNue tossed in. "Not jest us but them ranchers as well. An' with them meetin' to form up some plan he might jest be gettin' whot he's after."
"Confusion." Cook said. "Nobody knowin' what's next, or who's next, or why."
I believe you've a point there Cook. Everybody involved is off balance with just the one raid, which makes no sense to anyone but Case Steelgrave." Speed declared. "Not to make him a genius, no. There's a method to this madness, a method that will come out soon enough."
"They ain't never as smart as they think they are." McNue added.
NPC Post
Meanwhile, in Helena Montana, the Territorial Capitol, one Dutton Peabody was hard at work with efforts to obtain a pumper for the town of Kalispell, and so far, nothing had materialized. But Dutton Peabody was a man not easily dissuaded once he was on the hunt. To him this was a mission of love. It was where he had found a sober life, and one that put him back in the political world he so loved.
He had filed to get a conviction against Case Steelgrave that was true, but he had helped Leah Steelgrave in her quest to obtain the right of ways the railroad would need, and she could trade for the land she needed for her hospital project.
Now, his efforts were for fire equipment to protect it and the town. Quite frankly, it would be a gift to Leah, though it would appear to be a gift for Kalispell, these efforts were on her behalf as well. He would find one!
While he had no idea that he was the topic of conversation at the surveyor’s off, James was indeed on his way to work. His walk through the town took a little longer than normal as he was taking more care to avoid stepping into anything unpleasant. He was wearing his best pair of shoes, after all, his spare pair still damp from the recent rain.
As James drew closer to the storefront, his steps slowed even more as he took in the couple talking to Ada through the window. Wonderful. He thought anxiously as he moved closer, opening the door, and mustering up a smile for everyone within.
“Good morning, Miss Ada, ma’am, sir.” He nodded to each of them in turn, then glanced back at Ada since she was the one he knew by name and managed his day-to-day tasks at the office.
“I’m sorry if I kept you waiting.” He said quietly, flashing her a quick sheepishly little grin. Shrugging out of his coat, James hung it neatly across the back of his desk chair unaware of the task that he was to be handed.James didn’t know Amos or Alice so the thought of showing anyone anywhere never occurred to him. Plus he didn’t know how to ride and was in truth afraid of horses so his area knowledge was limited to the confines of the town. He’d yet to venture out of Kalispell since his arrival a few months back
Upon learning that he was to show Amos the Raven site, James blinked, forcing his smile to stray on his lips even as his stomach churned uneasily. “When?” He asked faintly, then cleared his throat and spoke clearer. “Now, did you want to go today?”
"Shucks no, son. But it'll be right soon. We got some work to do first. I gots ta do some work, but you could take Miss Alice here ta the Raven, I kin make up a map fer ya," Amos began. "Country's safe enough out that way, and, it ain't all thet far neither."
Alice looked at her father then to the young man, "Sure, we could do just that. And don't worry I can shoot if need be. I'll need to tell Marshal Guyer, well, Speed, that I'm going to go with you. Are you alright with that? You have a horse?"
So the plan would be that she would have a look at this Raven mine that they had discussed. The Copper Queen would need be first, as they had already discussed, it was closer, easier to get started, but it was true that the Raven needed to be looked over.
"Now I believe this is highly irregular Missus Conroy, the two of you traipsing around the country." Ada Fetterman said, disapproving of the change of plan. "But if the Marshal, uh, if Mister Guyer approve of it, there's not much I can say then.
Tags: Nova
"No Ma'am, not a thing," Alice said. "Pa's got to ride to Bozeman so he'll be away a couple of days, maybe longer, so Mister Vaughn here can ride with me, or perhaps we'll find another way to get out to the Raven to look her over." She smiled, "Ada, you do a fine job here for Mister Guyer, and I do appreciate your concern about my going out there, but as part owner, I have some responsibility. Pa can't go and neither can Speed, so, that leaves me."
The room fell silent.
Tags: Nova