Funny, but just a couple days ago it seemed as though Kalispell was still a million miles away and they may as well be starting from San Francisco. But now, as the little entourage got closer to town, Emeline couldn't believe that the honeymoon was almost to an end! And while she wasn't particularly familiar with this road into town, she knew some of the landmarks by reputation...the bright blue Howard house, painted so garishly because the original purchaser of the paint had found the color too blue and given it away, and Larry Howard, supporting a wife and ten children, practiced the 'beggars can't be choosers' principal. There was the Jennings place, distinguished by the black and white water tower, reminiscent of the Cape Hatters lighthouse 'back home', the white-washed Sterling brewery...
And then, there it was, the wonderfully familiar buildings of Kalispell, laid out before them, just as they'd left it...almost. Pulling the wagon to a stop, Emeline glanced at Barnabas, a silly grin on her face. "There it is! And is that the new hospital?" The framing was just getting started, but the building was too big to be a home, or even a saloon.
"Gentlemen," she addressed the cow hands accompanying them, "that's Kalispell...home..."
Baby, I done got wise!
A big fat man working on the building site looked up at the party of, to him, newcomers who had stopped to admire the building work.
"Howdy strangers, welcome to Kalispell!" He greeted them, Being a bit of a know-all, he decided to give them a few pointers. "Y'got the General Store over there; Mr Smith's Gunshop over yonder; Frank Fortner's Saloon; White Rose Theatre - that where the famous actress Miss Arabella Mudd puts on her shows; Marshall Charles Wentworth's office; Mrs Lutz's Diner and, well, best not mention what's down there behind the Funeral Parlour: that's where they got a 'House o' Ill Repute, set up - you all had best steer clear of that place!" He looked around, what had he forgotten? "Oh yeah - there was a barber shop, but the owners daughter shot him dead in the street a couple of weeks ago - just where you're horse is standing, Ma'am."
Yep, good old Kalispell, hadn't changed a bit!
Pike stopped his horse and looked at the man who was speaking. "Mister, did you say Marshal Charles Wentworth?" He was? not quite sure what to say. Speed had been replaced? No, they wouldn't do that, would they.
"And Speed Guyer? What about him?" He asked, then said, "Friend, were no pilgrims. Names Pike, my wife Em, and three of the Rockin' P hands. I was Deputy to Speed Guyer. Not sure what's happened as we, the wife an' I, been gone spell so last I knew Charlie Wentworth was a deputy under me, but 'o course I been gone, so, you got me there."
Something was wrong, dead wrong!
@Bongo @javia
Baby, I done got wise!
Pike stopped his horse and looked at the man who was speaking. "Mister, did you say Marshal Charles Wentworth?"
"Er, yeah, pretty sure that's his name. Young feller. Lot on his plate what with the murder and that feller what attacked them young girls and then kilt himself. Bust up that poor blind girl bad." the plump fellow said.
"And Speed Guyer? What about him?" He asked.
The man frowned "Who?... Oh, 's that the feller what got shot in the back? Never seen 'im"
"Friend, were no pilgrims. Names Pike, my wife Em, and three of the Rockin' P hands. I was Deputy to Speed Guyer. Not sure what's happened as we, the wife an' I, been gone spell so last I knew Charlie Wentworth was a deputy under me, but 'o course I been gone, so, you got me there."
"I'm Cox, Arthur Cox, but most of the fellers call me 'Chubby'" the fat fellow explained. "I'm proud t' meet you!"
He grinned at the P Hands "So, what's it to be fellers, a drink at Fortner's or pie at Mrs Lutz's place?" he chuckled, not mentioning the third alternative, Mrs Adam's Cat House. Not with a lady present.
"Hello," Emeline greeted the man, someone she hadn't seen before, not that she knew everyone, but then the 'welcome' to town, that mentioned 'Mrs. Lutz's Cafe'? Certainly, Clara hadn't...No, Emeline wouldn't even entertain that notion, it was probably just that the man associated the place with Clara, and that was a good thing, it meant she was keeping the business going, and that meant that her cooking was exceptional! Emeline was all the more interested to get to the cafe and see how it was doing...and how Clara was. There was so much to tell the girl, and she was anxious to see how the pregnancy was going. With no mother, Clara might need some advice and encouragement, unless, of course, someone else had filled that role...say. Granny Miggins?
Oh, the need to get to the cafe was all the more urgent!
And then Barnabas pointed out something she'd missed...if Charlie was Marshal..? "Mr. Guyer owns a mine" she murmured to her husband, "maybe he has business to tend there?"
Then she shrugged. "Perhaps you should go find out, and I'll show the men to the Lickskillet. We'll wait for you there." She knew full-well that Barnabas wasn't going to rest until he knew what was up with his friend, and she didn't want to slow him down.
"A mine? What? Wait, Chubby is it? Are you tellin' me the Marshal, Speed Guyer was shot?" He asked not quite sure what he heard or what was actually said. Then again this fella was not in town that he ever remembered, he was brought it, it would seem to work on the hospital which seemed to be coming along just fine.
"Now Chubby, you've never seen this Guyer fella I mentioned, who was Town Marshal when I left here early July. It's now late September an' you never seen this man, right?" How was that even possible? That Speed was not around at all? If he was shot then maybe his best bet was first the office, then Doc Danforth's.
Then she shrugged. "Perhaps you should go find out, and I'll show the men to the Lickskillet. We'll wait for you there." She knew full-well that Barnabas wasn't going to rest until he knew what was up with his friend, and she didn't want to slow him down.
"Yeah, yer right, I'll see if Charlie's at the office, if not I'll head over to Danforth's." He agreed, "You boys tag along with the Missus an' I'll catch up."
"Sure thing," Pythias said.
Baby, I done got wise!
"Now Chubby, you've never seen this Guyer fella I mentioned, who was Town Marshal when I left here early July. It's now late September an' you never seen this man, right?"
Chubby stroked the stubble on his chin.
"Well, dare say I might 'a laid eyes on him, sometime or other, but not since he got shot, oooh, must ha' been about the middle of August I guess. I steer clear o' the law if I can help it, peaceable sort y'see?" he elucidated. "Yeah, reckon Marshall Wentworth'd know where the, what d'you call him?, Guyer feller is."
He tipped his hat, especially to the pretty lady on the horse.
"Well, if you'll excuse me folks, timber to saw and nails to knock in!" and with that he went back to work. He was planning to quit tomorrow, and wanted to give the boss a good day's labor before he laid down his hammer and saw.
"Thank you for your help, Mr...Chubby." Emeline managed a smile, although her attention was following Barnabas as he rode toward the Marshal's office, a whole new set of worries suddenly arising. No sense fretting on that now, until they had facts, so she glanced at the riders who were with her.
"It's just up the street here, and Clara is an amazing cook, I'm sure she'll have something good brewing!" She did truly believe that, Clara was talented, and had the knowledge to know how to blend flavors to create new things, if she had the chance.
"There it is! I don't know about you gentlemen, but I'm famished!" Stopping in front of the small building that resembled a house more than a cafe, she chided Natty to stay put, then stepped from the wagon, assisted by one of the men.
"Chose whatever you want, gentlemen," she commented as she stepped through the door that was held for her. For a moment she paused, breathing in the aromas that hit with a wave of nostalgia, and she had to wipe tears. God, she missed this place, but it looked like Mrs. Clara's Cafe was almost as she'd left it, and doing good business.
Clara wasn't in sight, likely in the kitchen, so she nodded to an empty table. "Have a seat, I'll be back in a moment." At that, she headed to the kitchen, pushing open the door and sticking her head in.
"How can a person get service at this place?" she demanded sharply!
Pike nodded to the man, seemed odd that they had been treated as visitors, but if the man was new to town, well then that was most certainly why. He trotted to the Municipal Building and stepped down, trying the horse to the hitch rail he stepped up onto the boardwalk and strode through the double doors to the interior and finally the office.
A crowd of thoughts packed his mind, one fighting the other for his focus, but that simply was not happening. Was Speed alive? Dead? What? He stepped into the office, the door standing wide open, but no one about
"Charlie! Charlie you around?" He shouted, but there was no response, which meant little, he could actually be anywhere inside the building, or he could be making the rounds, that was a possibility. "Wentworth! Charlie Wentworth!" He shouted again.
@JulieS
Clara was busy in the kitchen alright, she had two frying pans going plus there was a big pot of baked beans going over the fireplace. She had just finished slicing some of the day's fresh baked bread. In another words, a typical enough day of work. Luckily she was in her element and quite content with this lifestyle.
"How can a person get service at this place?"
That voice? Instantly she turned toward the door. Sure enough!!!
Now Clara had previously often thought about what she would do at this moment, when Emeline returned. She imagined herself remaining very calm and her usual reserved self. Well, all that vaporized in an instant. She at least had the presence of mind to quick take the frying pan off the fire as the beefsteak was done to specifications.
"Oh my gosh! You are back, it is really you!"
Clara rushed toward the woman and again, in a most un-Clara like move, swept in for a heartfelt hug.
"I have missed you so much!" at least she was not crying. No, that was not something Clara did. Even if it would have been tears of joy.
