Recovery was slow but steady for Elias Steelgrave, and that slowed a great deal of his ambition to do much of anything but sit in the sun. There were things that he knew he wanted to do, now that Guyer was inactive and the Territorial Marshals were gone back to Helena. He was well aware that Kalispell did not have the resources to do much of anything about anything, not they ever had without a County Sheriff, which they failed once more to elect.

He heard nothing in so far as Pronto Pike, the man, and his wife had been gone most of the summer, galavanting about, and on a deputy's salary, that did not add up. There was more to this man than he was privy to, and he needed to know more about this man. He knew all about the man as a gunfighter, that was well known, but not so much about his private life, and that bothered him, though it was certainly none of his business. Elias Steelgrave liked to know what he was up against, and he believed that he was up against Pike, deputy or not.

The business of the Lost Lake Ranch was on his mind, the how-to of undoing the Thornton's hold on the place. Not the best land for grazing, that was a fact. He owned the better range, but the Thornton's had a place that was all but impenetrable, the perfect place for him and maybe even his boy Case to call headquarters. Maybe even his other sons as well, though not Leah, his daughter, no she had other plans and Elias was well aware of that. The hospital and this crazy idea of an orphanage. No she would no longer fit within the family.

And then there was Elenor, his estranged wife who had yet to file for divorce, though he would certainly have heard about it if she had. And what of her? What were his options with Elenor? How could he deal with her in the future? That was a good question, if he had her killed, because he couldn't do it himself, it would most certainly come back on him, even though she was clear across the country.

Plans. Elias needed to make plans, for all of this.

Clear across the country. That was what Tyndall and Fairchild had told him. With Fairchild, it was more of an update. Not a pleasant one, and planning to have her killed was a rash decision, but he had managed to quell that, at least for the time being. Her leaving him was an ache that never quite left him. Add to that the boys were gone, save for Case who could meet a bullet, or a rope at any minute, and then there was Leah. Leah the determined little brat of a girl who wanted to do what she wanted and not what her family wanted.

It struck him, as he sat there, she was making her own way, she was her own woman anymore it seemed. That damned hospital was started and people were seeing her not as a Steelgrave, but as a woman working for the good of the community. And the progress was due to Wentworth who was now town Mayor but had presided at the meeting where the rights to the property were finally signed, giving Leah the land for both the hospital and the damned orphanage.

Not much had gone his way over the past year and a half, or better. The idea of taking Lost Lake stalled, at least for this year. Winter was coming on and there would be no starting a war with heavy Montana snow to deal with. And, there was this damned pneumonia he had contracted. Mild case? Hardly, well not so far as he was concerned. Doc Gilcrest ran off with Carson to guard Leah so he had to depend on Sour Dough to doctor him, he surely was not going to call Danforth out there and let Lost Lake know he was sick. No, he would provide no edge to Shade Thornton and his men, now that he was back.

If he had only known that Thorton was coming back he would have waylaid him and crossed him off the list, but there had been no word from either Latham or Postmaster Ashworth about his return, which had not been heralded by the rag that McVay put out either. Maybe the golden boy was not so golden after all. He shifted in his chair, readjusted the blanket coving him, and exhaled heavily.

"Damnable pneumonia!" He said aloud, as he gazed out over the ranchland. It was the best land, far better than Lost Lake. He often wondered why the Thorntons had settled there instead of the far better rangeland that he had acquired, but perhaps at the time the property was claimed cattle was not what the family had been after.

Cattle, yes, cattle were in demand all across the country, and he had Black Angus, Herefords, along with some Longhorns. All kept separate from one another to prevent cross-breeding, though he was considering a Longhorn Hereford mix, just to see what would come of that. It was the meat, if that produced a meatier Herford, then he would command a higher price. But that plan was on hold as were several other plans that did not involve the expansion of his ranch and that of Lost Lake.

Plans, many had come to him and just passed on. Kalispell held no real interest to him in so far as running the place. So far it was just a wide spot in the trail to Canada or the Oregon territory. Leah might well change all of that with this hospital of hers, not to mention the orphanage. Those two things could change the balance in Kalispell, and then, there was the coming railroad which meant more law, whether elected or appointed. That, in and of itself would change the landscape irreversibly.

Right of ways, one of the things he had not seen coming, so invested in taking Lost Lake for himself. What was happening around him had been brushed aside to focus on Thornton's property. But not his daughter, no, she had snatched them up with talk of her plans to exchange them for the property that would benefit the town with her projects.

And just how could she have paid for the property rights along what would become the rail bed? A coughing fit engulfed him and interrupted his train of thought, but that would not be for long as Sour Dough came running with the honey and lemon mixture that eased the coughing. He wasn't Doc Gilcrest but he would do.

September was waning and with it any plans to make an attempt on Lost Lake, which would take some major planning to carry out with the place a natural fortification. Oh, it was beautiful and all, yet not a lot of range to speak of, and with that, the fear of overgrazing what was there.

But this had never been about more land to add to the Evergreen, it had always been about revenge for the killing of his son, twenty-two-year-old Calvin. The idea of who was right or who was wrong never entered the picture. Shade Thornton was in the wrong, killing any Steelgrave would make him wrong, and to Elias, it had been plain murder.

With the coming of the fall, he wondered where Case was, he had set out to find this Oakerlind which likely would end up in gunplay one way or another, and it was now better than a month since he left on this quest to bring the man back to face trial and hang. An odd turn of events for an outlaw. But Case was always one to surprise everyone with the things he did, this one was no exception.

Yet what would he consider doing over the coming winter? The town council had been subverted away from his control if in fact Latham and Ashworth had ever truly represented his desires for the town and the county. Not that said desires would ever benefit the residents of Flathead County or Kalispell, no they would have only benefitted the Evergreen and Elias Steelgrave. Now, well, now things had changed with their rigged election process.

Perhaps there was not going to be a range war, but perhaps a hostile takeover of the Kalispell Town Council, as they certainly had elected the wrong man as mayor. He rubbed his chin as he considered what that would mean, and who he would find himself up against.

A hostile take over, now that was a phrase that was certain to catch on in a vast number of areas in the American lexicon given time and others thinking of the phrase. Like all things, whether he actually coined the phrase, or had heard it somewhere in passing, it was as if it were music to his ears.

Kalispell was, in his mind, ready for a change from the humdrum, do nothing Town Council that seemed content to just sit on their hands and let everything just roll on by. As a man once said, 'If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything!' That was what he had heard, and what he believed. It was exactly how he saw Kalispell, and in his estimation, it was time for a change, time to get the town out of its perceived lethargy and move forward what with the railroad on its supposed way into the territory.

The railroad, it was lucrative. Not so much in the owning of it, as that had far too many expenses, but taking advantage of it and what it represented for the territory. There had to be a way to get Steelgrave influence and profits from it. Well another way than right-of-ways, his daughter had seen to that, yet just past the town limits, what bout those right-of-ways? Would there be a measure of profit in controlling them? And would they not have to act quickly if they were to swoop them up?

Most were unaware of what right-of-ways were, or that they might have them, but his lawyer and his postmaster, they could swing into action and buy up what they could, and his men could handle those that chose not to sell. This was an idea, but, in the long run, would it be worth it? That then was the question. 

September waning, October approaching with the very real possibility of frost on the pumpkins and here he sat, soaking up the sun as the stubborn remnants of pneumonia continued to hang on and torment him. Early fall was never much of a forecaster of what was to come, but winter would descend upon Flathead Valley soon enough, either mild or nasty weather-wise. The recent winter had removed most of what had been the town of Whitefish, his fervent hope was that this coming winter would not be a repeat of the last one.

At least he could sit outside in the sun, as most September days were still warm, and he needed that warmth but hated the inactivity, hated the helplessness he felt while stricken with the disease, but it was clearing, although it was taking its sweet time about it.

Elias wanted to strike out at someone or something, especially the Lost Lake, but time was running short, and the damned ranch was all but impenetrable. So the question was how to manage some kind of action against the place, any kind of action for that was where the hate resided, on Thornton's front porch! Oh, there had been the idea of placing men on the top of the mountain and wasting ammunition firing down on the men below. An idea, but a really bad one.

Catching them in town might be easy, but then there would be the law to contend with, Guyer would not be down forever, and Pike would not be away forever either. However, the Lost Lake riders would be going into town for supplies and need to return, so a chance for an ambush would be excellent. Yet as he thought of it, how many men would be escorting a supply wagon to town, two? Maybe three? Hardly worth the wrath of both the law and Lost Lake, who could mount an attack on the Evergreen far easier than he could attack them. No, that would never do unless Shade himself was along.

Then the name Okerlind rolled through his mind. What did he fancy himself? The Osage Kid? Then again, wasn't Case after him, which when he found Okerlind one of them would not survive the encounter, so he was out, but there were others of his ilk. Assassins. Yes, that well could be a solution to the Shade Thornton problem, an assassin to rid the world of his nemesis. Thus opening the door to Lost Lake, although he would need to most certainly do something about one Quentin Cantrell.

There was little joy in this mental game of 'if's and maybe's', though it did warm the cockles of his soul, providing he had one of course.

But then, as he sat outside soaking up the sun, which he had been told was good for him. That blasted fool physician Doc Boone had been willing to come help with Elias' pneumonia and had more than his fair share of good advice to spread around while he was at it. Some of that seemed to turn the trick though. It was good having him over in Columbia Falls where Steelgrave was not a disease folks steered clear of. Not that he himself was overtly welcome there, his men were so long as they behaved, and that was good enough.

How he missed Whitefish and what it had been. Then suddenly, a thought came to him, something out of the blue, completely off of his train of thought,

The idea came to him as he sat in the afternoon sunlight, much like a bolt of lightning. What a surprise it would be to make an offer on that sodbuster, Aurelian Redmond’s patch of dirt. An offer may be of a better than fair price for it. What could it hurt? Might be good for a laugh or two, then again, he just might bite and the Evergreen could close that gap in the property lines with Lost Lake. Well, better him than Thornton who probably has little interest in it for himself. He thought on it some more, and the more he thought on it, the better he liked it!

He would send three or four riders with a written offer that he meant to uphold, should Redmond agree, but no matter what the man did or did not do with the offer, it had been made in peace, it would show Elias Steelgrave to be upright and honest with his business dealings, and, that that end, he would retain a copy of the offer as proof. For what, he had no idea, but he would have it never the less.

He got up went inside where he put pen to paper and drew up a simple offer sheet for the property, which did not include a price, but instead a dollar sign and a blank line with ‘name your price’ under it.

Next, he stepped out the back door and shouted for Arlen Granger who responded quickly marching from the cook shack to the main house where Elias waited.

“I want you to ride down to Redmond’s place and give him this offer, and take Sour Dough along so he knows you don’t mean any trouble.” Elias directed. This was a good plan.

“Yes sir, Sour Dough’d be a good choice to show we ain’t huntin’ no trouble." Arlen agreed, but then pursued it a bit further, "Sir, why in the blue blazes are you doin' this? I mean we go ridin up there, him 'er that daughter of his'd go off half-cocked and shoot the both of us, an' fer whot. He ain't ever gonna sell ta you, 'er Case, 'er nobody. Pro'ly not even Shade Thornton!" He argued the point without being argumentative, or so he thought.

"That ain't the point!" Elias barked. Then he paused for a moment. Maybe Granger had a point after all, and no he had not really thought the plan through it was as much a lark as anything else, but it would be fun to see the clod hopper's reaction. That made him smile, the idea that he, Elias Steelgrave would want to buy the farm rather than ride roughshod over the place.

Perhaps the idea that he, Elias Steelgrave, would stoop to making an offer on the land he could take by force, simply, quickly, and devastatingly was just not what a man of his caliber should do. Oh, it would be fun, but then he would not be there to see the expression on Redmond's face when said offer was made. So why bother? Yes, it was a pretty good idea all in all, just not one he had any confidence in, not that he expected Redmond to act on it, if fact Granger had a point, Aurelian Redmond and his daughter might just empty the Evergreen saddles without so much as a fair thee well. No that would never do, and to send more than the two would start a fight, one he would most certainly win but at what cost? His cook?

No, best let that lie til it was time to simply take the place and bury the dead! He had other things to consider, Elinor Steelgrave came immediately to mind. Solving that little situation could be easily handled. It was possible to have Tyndall and his man Fairchild handle all of the details to eliminate the woman. He smiled at the thought. and there was this hospital fiasco Leah had gotten herself into. Something could certainly be done about that, but care would have to be taken as Case would not abide any harm coming to her or her pet project, yet something needed to be done.

And then there was the newly minted Town Council, who had as yet done nothing, and as far as Elias was concerned, nothing was preferable to anything they might come up with. And how best to rid Kalispell of these 'elected' stooges? That was a very good question. Which led to those outstanding right of ways that needed to be under Evergreen control. This coming railroad smelled of money to be made in one way or another, legal or otherwise.

There was already a brothel in town, or so he had been told, and perhaps one was not enough. Yes, there was a saloon as well, a shame that Matilda Devereau had seen fit to sell, and a real shame he had not known about the sale, it could have been his. And why not another place? A bigger place, a better place. He sat in th glow of ideas that meant money, money that would be his, which translated to power that would be his.

Maybe he should have Latham and Ashworth out for a meeting and see what might well be the plan of action going forward. He would send for them, and they would get started on something while he considered what to do about one Shade Thornton and the Lost Lake Ranch. That needed resolution! To hell with Aurelian Redmond and his weed patch!

All in good time.

The fact of the matter was, Elias Steelgrave was feeling better, much better, and Doc Boone had been right it takes an older man longer to shake something like even a touch of pneumonia. God forbid he broke a bone!

Feeling better and having all of these marvelous plans come to mind, he had even written them down carefully, considering what each one's priority was in the grand scheme of things, according to him. Weighing each one against the other as to their profitability. Dispatching his estranged wife did not turn any kind of profit for him, but it would eliminate her pilfering his funds. However, that would cast immediate suspicion on him, no matter what the cause of death, even on the other side of the country.

Now killing Shade Thorton, rather, having someone kill Shade would cause no end of problems for him as he again would be the chief suspect, Guyer would not be laid up forever, and Pike would not be gone forever. The only reason for taking Lost Lake was that it would make it harder to get to him. Those were two ideas at the bottom of the list.

Taking over the Town Council? That could get really messy, really fast. And then there was the question of how to go about it. Word had it his daughter had been appointed to it and that meant five men could be around her at all times in those meetings, which would make a hostile takeover neigh impossible, but there were other ways around that, he would wait on Latham and Ashworth for their view on that, possibly input from Carson Tyndall as well.

Then again, a second saloon and brothel. He had connections to bring in girls from Kanas City to stock a brothel, and competition for the Stardust was always a good thing, that would mean building. Building anything costs money. He had the capital to fund it, but how long would it take to recoup the cost?

Suddenly none of the ideas were without problems and expenses. And where the hell was Case?

Saturday                          September 25th, 1876

Word had gone out and at ten that morning a disgruntled pair, Cole Latham and Nolan Ashworth arrived at the Evergreen to see what Elias wanted. Neither had a seat on the new Town Council and in fact, none of Steelgrave loyalists that were in town had been appointed either. Leah Steelgrave could hardly be called a 'loyalist' to her father, and like most all of Kalispell, they were surprised at her appointment, and even more so at her acceptance.

Because the governor had unwittingly appointed Ashworth as Postmaster, he had no worries about what Wentworth might have to say about his job, that was safe, as was Lathham's law office, he could do neither about the pair, or so it seemed.

They were welcomed inside to hot coffee and the offer of breakfast, something new from Elias. So they accepted, have ridden out before either had eaten or for that matter made themselves coffee as bachelors both.

"Well gentlemen, good morning," Elias said as he joined them in the large formal dining room. "I have a couple of ideas to run by you and get your input. Now I know that I have seldom asked for it, but in this instance, I would rather not bull rush into anything, but, before we get into all of that, the food is just about ready and the coffee will be hot, giving us time to just chat."

This was something new from Ellias Steelgrave. New and undoubtedly devious!!