A month had come and gone while they worked the mine, in every conceivable way other than drawing a wage. But they had no use for the money, which was probably in the custody of Miss Ada Fetterman, or the bank. The two got to know one another while they worked at cleaning up the outbuilding, the office, and the tool shed, which they found to be nicely stocked with the implements needed, from picks and shovels to hammers and nails, which they used almost daily repairing things.
The murder of his parents weighed heavy on Rip, even though he took a real liking to Ty and his stories of ranching in the middle of Apache country, they just hit it off plain and simple. They worked well together despite their age difference. Ty never once raised his voice to the boy, he never had to. Now that most things were done, they would begin preparing for the coming winter.
So far, no miners had arrived, or been hired to their knowledge. Speed was at the Rafter A with Alice and Amos while he recovered, not that Amos was around much. Just from time to time to see what was needed and how things were going. Everything was sort of at a standstill.
The work had filled their days, but Ty and Rip had managed to get the buildings cleaned out and ready for occupancy in the bunk houses, for business in the office, and for supplies as they arrived.
"Place look alright wouldn't you say Rip?" Ty asked, standing in the middle of the yard, looking over the place."
"It does, it shorely does, Ty. We done real good gettin' this place back together. Even with the nailin' of the shingles on the roofs where they was needed." Rip replied, it had taken the boy time to get past the murder of his folks, even if one ever really does, he acclimated to being with Ty as partners, and friends.
"Guess you an' me oughtta ride into town, maybe have supper at the Lickskillet, see Missus Lutz. Be a big piece'a pie in it I'm thinkin'. Want ta see how Speed's comin' along so maybe we stay the night and ride on out to the Rafter A in the mornin'." Ty offered.
Rip had a big grin plastered on his face. "You bet!" He stated. "You mean stay at the hotel"
"That's what I said aint it? Now lets get mounted up and ride on outta here."
"Deal!" Rip said and started for the horses, Ty right behind him, it was twenty miles to town, meaning riding between a trot and a walk, they were looking at five to six hours, making it just about supper time when they rode into Kalispell.
A bond had formed between the man and the boy, though it had not been easy at first, and it took some time for the boys grieving to pass. Which Ty accepted as normal, since he had gone through that process himself over Gracie Maie, his wife.
But the boy stepped right in and took to the work, which as Ty saw it, might well have been the best thing that could have happened with young Rip. The burying of his family had not been something he needed to do, so Ty rode back to the ranch site and tended to the grizzly task.
Once that was done the two took to cleaning up and repairing the buildings at the mine sight, they even lowered themselves in the shaft to the first, and presently only stope to have a look at the vein of copper. The boy was not the only one amazed by it, and it said that once it was worked, and should it go on wider than what they saw, people would be rich.
Seeing the vein, and realizing the wealth that would come from it, both Ty and Rip wondered just how they would fit into this mining operation. So far they had been paid well, four dollars a day plus room and board. There was a lot to be done on the property and there was still more to do, but not nearly as much as they had first encountered. That pay sat in the bank in an account for each of them. Ada Fetterman saw to that, much to both Rip and Ty's delight.
This trip into town would be to pick up some new clothes, some supplies, a couple of good meals at the Lickskillet, and at least one night in the hotel, if not two. Then they would be off to see Speed
Ty and Rip rode into Kalispell right about four-thirty that afternoon. The first stop was the Mercantile for some new clothes and supplies, which took no time at all to gather up and cart out to the horses, but on second thought, Ty carried the bundles back inside asking Misses Anderson to please hold onto them, as they would be staying the night with no place safe to put them.
Then, it was to the livery and Gunther Schmidt to put up the horse for the night. Have them grained promising to return to brush them down, though Gunter said they shouldn't worry, he had time to care for them. Both Ty and Rip were happy with that decision, which meant, they were headed over to the hotel where they would make reservations for the night. Ty also set up baths for the pair, as they had clean clothes in their saddlebags which they carried with them. A little soap and water would be good, not that they didn't bathe at the mine as they did, but they were in town, and staying at the hotel.
Clean and ready, they left the hotel and walked up to the Lickskillet to have supper. They walked through the door, the bell tinkling as they passed through, closing it behind them There were a number of folks already there, but there were open tables, they waited for Missus Lutz to see them before anything else.
continued in Lickskillet Diner
Monday, November 14, 1876
The time spent in Kalispell had been worthwhile, the supplies that they needed were evenly distributed between both riders, as there actually was not all that much for them to carry back to the 'Copper Queen.' Through no fault of their own they had been unable to ride out to the Rafter A as they had planned, the reasoning was simple.
Amos Conroy had met Rip and Ty at the cafe that Sunday morning, one needed to be up early or wait until after service for breakfast. That was not a problem for them, they were on hand when th door was open and prepared for whatever the 'Special' might be, it would be food and there would be coffee, all that was necessary for what needed to be done.
Amos slid into the chair that was open and said to Ty, "Man name'a Pierce, Ambrose Pierce, is in town to sign on with are comp'ny. Man's assayer, knows his bid'ness too. He's the one whot I swa and got them reports from. Say's he's lookin' fer a change." He took a breath, "An' there's a actual copper miner whot showed up as well, names Brimley, Brimley McGinnis, an' another fella Vincent it was, Able Vincent says he's worked copper afore."
"And what? We supposed to meet up with 'em, take 'em out to the diggin's an' turn 'em loose?" Ty asked, actually happy about all three men, just not sure what Amos had in mind.
"Oh. yeah, sure that's the ticket! Now this Ambrose Pierce, he wants to look it over, but he'll be workin' in the office, Miss Fetterman said. Fancy that we got us a real live assayer, and he'll be working right in are office. Anyway, I jest come from the ranch an' you two need to get these gents out to the Copper Queen so they can see whot's whot. Least ways that's whot Speed had ta say about it."
So they finished up their breakfast left money for the bill and headed out to meet up with these fellas when they decided to get up. No telling what they had done the night before what with the saloon and the brothel available. That was conjecture, they may have just decided to get breakfast in the hotel, if they were up. So, Ty and Rip waited.
Stepping out onto the boardwalk with Amos Conroy, "Reckon them fellas are getting around ta wakin' up?" He asked.
The grizzled former bounty hunter grinned, "Yep, they's awake, up, dressed, fed an' ready fer the day." He said. looking back as the assayer, Ambrose Pierce came out of the hotel followed by two of the unlikeliest men to ever claim to be copper miners, the aforementioned Brimley McGinnis, and Able Vincent. "That'd be a pair ta draw to!"
"Well we need experienced men up there right off, an' if they know what they're about then we're off to a good start."
"Mornin'!" The Man said, "Pierce, Ambrose Pierce." He extended his hand, which Ty took, and shook it firmly. "I'll be your new assayer, and brother, from the looks of the samples Ol' Amos here had brought in, well I figure the lot of us are sitting on a fortune in copper, 'course you'll need more than three of you to make it pay."
"Well, that would be Mister Guyer's plan, finding the right men at this particular time is the delay. But I believe come spring well, we'll have all the men we'll need."
"I had quite a chat with McGinnis and Vincent and you are off to a good start. They are both knowledgeable about mines, especially copper." Pierce said as the two miners came up to them. Mister Thornton, Brimley McGinnis, and Able Vincent."
"Gentlemen, we'll be heading out to the queen if you've horse 'er mules."
"We do. At the livery." Brimley said.
"Then let's get to it!" And they started for the livery.
Once they were all mounted and starting out, Ty looked at Pierce with a smile, "An' just why are you ridin' up there with us Mister Pierce?"
"What? That's simple, I want to see what you've got up there. I mean I saw what Amos here brought to me to Assay but I want to see the vein, maybe figure some things like how many men you're gonna need to pull it out of the ground, and isn't that the main issue? Men and materials to pull the mineral out of the ground."
"I 'spose so, I'm no miner but I expect from looking at it it'll take a few." Ty observed.
"Then again, how deep does it go? How wide and how long? All this comes into play when you're after whatever, copper in this instance. Manpower til they come up with the tools to dig with, and yes I know all about those silver and gold mines that have just such tools, but they don't come cheap!"
"Ya said yerself a mouthful, yes eir ya did.Minin' equipment's spensive. Now what I heard you talkin' 'bout was wide 'n deep, and that could be a problem less of course there's a mill here 'bouts., Gonna need timbers an' sech." Hank Brimley informed them. They's trees a plenty so that ain't the problem."
"Gettin' men won't really be a problem," Vincent Apgar added, "Once word gets out about yer diggin's you'll need ta beat off with a stick. An' brother, that's when the con men an' all manner of cheats on the scout fer the right easy pickin's. Mine owner what don't know Jack 'b=out what their doin' an' ain't got 'em men what do know to watchout fer the snakes in suits 'er overalls. Mostly they're pretty easy ta spot as most don't wanna work fer nothin', rather steal it.
"Now that there's the gospel, boys!" Hank exclaimed. "But how do ya know we ain't them?"
"Don't, leastways not yet I don't, but I been 'round the barn more'n once, If yer four flushers I'll know soon enough a run ya off 'er bury ya." Ty stated.
(Revised)
Amos laughed out loud at the statement. "Hell's fire Ty, these two be at this minin' think since dirt was green. They ain't that sort but I reckon you know'd that a'ready!
"I did," Ty replied confidently.
"So you do have a good start with these two. They are the ones that will ferret out the cons, the grifters, an' loafers what'll be comin' 'round. Ya kin count on that." Amos added. "An' by the Lord Harry, he's right about that 'quipment being 'spensive. But ya gotta have it, from what I know an' it ain't much, ya can only do so much with picks an' shovels."
"I don't figger Speeds the kind that'd jump inta this without he knew what to expect from it." Ty said Sure as the man decided to keep one that was found, he already had his plans made. already knew what it was gonna cost. Man's been dealin' in mines fer a spell, so he's no pilgrim when it comes to that."
"Marshal Guyer's a smart man, leastways that's how I see him." Rip added without being asked. Both men laughed as did the others.
"You had any trouble with the Evergreen, they's yer neighbors an' all?" Amos asked, "Likely ol "lias Steelgrave'll try an' run ya off should he get wind of it."
"Nope, not seen hide nor hair of 'em. Hope to keep it that way." Ty responded, knowing that there were any number of gun hands on that payroll. "So far, so good."
Ty smiled and continued, "I doubt I'm much of a thorn in his side right now, it's when we get this thing up an' runnin', that's when I expect we'll have us, visitors, ya might say.
"Neighbors gonna be a problem, are they?" Vincent asked with a sly smile. "Wouldn't be the first time we've run onto trouble at a mine site."
"Ain't one ta be spoilin' fer no fight, but was they to bring it, well I'd have to say, they bit off a big hunk!" Hank Brimley offered. "Fit Reb's an' several kinda Injuns, and I might add, no accounts of all types while workin' claims, so was they ta come bringin' trouble, I reckon we'll be ready."
"Brimley, I couldn't a said it better my own self." Ty said.
"There always seems to be a risk with any mine operation, especially with cattlemen who think the world is their range, and as we all know, that ain't the truth of it," Ambrose added. "Trouble always seems to crop up, sooner or later, but we get ourselves enough men up here to work your digging, defending the place may not be all that difficult." The men all smiled, but Rip, he was pensive, they were talking gun trouble, and his experience with that was not good.
A
When they reached the 'Queen' as Ty and Rip called it the men with them were pleased by what they saw, oh, there was a need for mining equipment alright, but the rest of it, the buildings and grounds showed the work and care Ty and Rip had already put in the place. They rode in and stopped in front of what was to be the 'Foreman's Shack,' where all the diagrams, files, and paperwork would be kept. They dismounted and stood looking the place over.
"Nice. you boys got this et up real nice." Ambrose said admiring everything.
"It was all here, just needed cleanin' up." Rip said proudly, finally able to say something about their work.
"Yep, the feller Speed got it from, well ol' Amos is the one what got it, anyway, he went under and it was got cheap for what it is, an' from what I'm told, what it can be."
"Amos was the gent that brought the ore to be assayed. Be good to see him again." Ambrose relayed, He's the reason I pulled up stakes and moved myself here, and Miss Ada, not there's a crackerjack woman. Got this whole thing under her thumb, she does."
"So we can have a look at the veins if you like, they look to be promising, though me, I don't know a whole lot about this sortta thing." Ty admitted.
"Me an' Brimly here'll have us a look-see after we scout around, that buildin' over there, that'd be the bunk house?" Vincent asked, pointing to the longer building.
"Yes sir that would be it," Rip answered. "An', she's ready to move into!" A note of pride in his voice that everyone caught.
"Ain't no sense ta waitin', let's have us a look-see." Brimly suggested as if the mine and the veins could wait.
"Just follow me, gentlemen. Rip stepped out toward the building, the men followed his lead, smiling.
