Pythias looked up, at Emilene "Why we'd be obliged Ma'am we'll have us three specials." He ordered for them, and both Lorado and Dallas just smiled. 'On the house' meant that perhaps they not act as if they were paying. The place had to turn a profit, that was clear to each of them and, after all, this was the boss's wife's place. It was the respectful thing to do.

"This here's a nice place ya got, Ma'am," Dallas observed, a place like this was something almost special. It had a good view of the street, it was cozy but big enough for his way of thinking. Almost like a place he remembered back in Bluffton Indiana where he hailed from. He was a long way from home.

"Reminds me of a place around Little Elm, Texas. Yep, this here'a a fine set up Ma'am." Lorado added. His hometown.

"No-one is in custody and Speed is just as in the dark as we are. We have no idea of who and why they shot him. As far as I know, Case Steelgrave hasn't been seen around here for months, so he probably didn't do it but I wouldn't surprised if he paid someone to do it for him."

"What I know of Case Steelgrave, if he wanted Speed dead, he'd of done it himself. Case does his own killin' far as I know. But I 'spouse most anything's possible. That he ain't been seen's no surprise, he's got him someplace where he's away from folks. A hideout with them riders he's runnin' with." Pike said," Here, right here in town you say?"

"It was here in town. Things had been pretty quiet around here except for a few suspicious deaths, so Speed getting shot was totally unexpected. It shook up the town a little. Now everybody is a bit more wary of strangers and yeah, the hospital is going fine...for now.  Most people still reckon that Elias will do something to stop it from being finished. "

"That took some brass cajones! Shootin' a man in broad daylight in town. Nah, that ain't Case's style. He would have faced him down, not shot him from ambush." Pike observed, wondering who and why.

He leaned back in his chair a little, "I guess the main thing you need to know is that we have a new county judge.  His name is Adam Townsend...he was personally appointed by the Governor. He's only been here a few weeks and doesn't seem to have any other agenda than the one he was given."

"Good news, but where's that leave ol' Harlan Bryant? Havin' a man here in town beats waitin' on a circuit judge for sure, but it is a bit of a surprise, I'll say that. An' as far as Elias? He'll do whatever he thinks he can get clear of after the fact, so hittin' the hospital? Not so sure he'll try that one. They won't finish before the snow flies though. Well, best I catch up with the missus here pretty quick. Up to the cafe, she is. A lot ta digest, that's a fact." There had to be more to all of this, and the Governor sending a judge, but pulling his Marshals didn't make a lot of sense to Pike. There were now more questions than answeres.

Pronto got to his feet, "Good to be back, I'll be ridin' out to see Speed, lest I catch him here since you say he's comin' in. Glad he's on the mend."He said, got three of my riders up to the Lickskillet fer supper with Em, so like I said, I'll get filled in." There was a pang of uncertainty that he just couldn't lay a finger on, but supper was waiting and he was hungry for it. "Probably see you tomorra then," And with that he was ot the food, caught up his horse and mounted up then wheeled Around an' trotted up to the cafe.

Steeping inside and removing his hat, he made his way over to the table where everyone was waiting and slipped into the vacant chair. He looked at Em, "Speed was shot, but he's okay and healin' up from it. They got nobody in jail for it." He was clearly not happy about it.

"Four specials, and probably one more once Barnabas gets here. He went over to the marshal's office to talk to Charlie Wentworth about Speed. What happened with that, anyway?"

It seemed Emeline was curious, naturally enough. Almost everyone knew everyone in a small town. Clara first touched on the kitchen duties.

"Four specials coming up," Clara nodded, already reaching for the first necessary ingredients. She could probably make these dishes blindfolded by now.

"As for the Marshal, poor man. He was shot, ambushed in the street. He is recovering, he will pull thru....well, assuming infection does not enter into it. No one got a good look at the shooter, he did it from a distance, with a rifle. So sad to say, but thus far the assassin has not been caught. Not certain he ever will either," Clara explained.

"If you ask me, and no one did, look no further than the Evergreen ranch and Mr. Steelgrave. Naturally, not him personally, he would never get his hands dirty. But one of his many armed thugs. I am always uncomfortable when I have to serve a few of them in here but I cannot forbid them from entering. And it is money, correct?"

It would take both of them to carry the five plates, along with rolls and other 'fixin's', so Emeline followed Clara with a tray.  She broke into a big smile when she spotted Barnabas at the table.

"Speed was shot, but he's okay and healin' up from it. They got nobody in jail for it."

"Yes, Clara told me some about it."  Funny, not even an hour ago the future had been so bright and happy, but now...well, dark clouds were moving in, and the path they had barely started on was starting to change.  "I'm glad he's all right.  You'll be wanting to visit him."  That was a statement, not a question, so that he would know that she understood, and she'd manage anything to do with the ranch if she had to.

"Yes, um, I will, but not til we've reached the ranch, you have yer fill of lookin' around, and we've got the herd in, be a day 'er two." He said, he was fighting the urge to ride out there right then, or to ride out after whoever did it, if there was any kind of trail, which he doubted.

"Oh, gentlemen, this is Mrs. Lutz, the second best cook in the territory!  Clara, these are three of our hands, Pythias, Lorado and Dallas."

"Mrs, Luz, a pleasure to meet you." Pythias greeted rising as he spoke, Lorado following suit,

"Ma'am," He said with a smile as he sat and Dallas stood,

"A pleasure Missus Lutz." He sat back down and Pike spoke up,

"A real oddity this ambush of Speed. Not somethin' whot happens here, not at all. Mostly it's quiet, tho tense a lotta the time. Range war on the cusp, but just ain't ever boiled over, yet. Don't affect us much as we ain't in on it. Just the Lost Lake Ranch, and the Evergreen. But it's a lotta beller'n an' no action, doubt they'll ever get to the fightin' part."

Clara and Emeline carried in the plates of food to the men seated at the table, one of them was Barnabas. Clara smiled at him,"Good to see you again. Thanks for bringing your wife back."

Pike was presenting the others, "Oh, gentlemen, this is Mrs. Lutz, the second best cook in the territory!  Clara, these are three of our hands, Pythias, Lorado and Dallas."

"Hello gentlemen, hope you enjoy the meal," Clara acknowledged the men.

"Mrs, Luz, a pleasure to meet you." Pythias greeted rising as he spoke, Lorado following suit,

"Ma'am," He said with a smile as he sat and Dallas stood,

"A pleasure Missus Lutz." He sat back down and Pike spoke up about Speed and the still possible range war.

"I see yer back ta work already." Pike said to Em in jest, "This looks just like what I expected from the Lickskillet, done yerself a fine job there Clara. By golly, ya done a grand job while we was gone!" The place was exactly as it was when they left a lifetime ago.

"Enough talk of the problem them other rances are havin' with each other. We finish here it'll be off to the new place we'll be callin' home. Meanwhile, dig in if you ain't already!" Pike was a happy man to finally be home, the herd behind him, the Rockin' P ahead of him, and a return to normal, whatever that would be.