It was early but not too early for breakfast so it was that Clara Lutz approached the municipal building with a basket in the crook of her arm. She did not knock but tried the door and it was open so she went right in. Nobody was there at the moment so she cleared her throat and called out in reasonable tone of voice.

"Excuse me, is anybody here?"

She had heard all about the attempt on Steelgrave's life by of all people, Jemima Wigfall. Clara was conflicted about it all. A part of her wished Elias Steelgrave would have been killed but then that would make the possible consequences for Jemima all the more grim. No the more reasonable part of her just wished Jemima had stayed out of it yet sympathized with the young lady's sense of justice. Of course the law did not work that way.

She had cooked up a nice breakfast for the girl and was determined to see Jemima got to eat it. It was as much an act of solidarity as a meal.

It was Clara Lutz calling out, "Excuse me, is anybody here?" Speed was just making his way to the cell block when he heard the call

"Just did get here," he said as he walked back into the office. "Here with breakfast, I see. I'll trust there's no file in there, so we'll dispense with the idea of a search." He smiled. "Just headed back to see our prisoner, wondering why she has not been arraigned as yet, there's nothing I know of on the docket more important than this case. I know it doesn't look good Clara, but, at the moment it will be real hard to defend. Witnesses have come forward, there was a bullet hole in his hat, and she had the gun in her hand as they tried to restrain her, or she would have fired again given the chance."

He unlocked the cell block door and pushed it open. "Mornin' Jemima, Missus Lutz is here with your breakfast." He turned to Clara, "I'll leave the door open."

With that he walked out, thinking perhaps he needed to go see this new Judge and find out what the delay was. It was odd that the arraignment had not taken place, but then again the wheels of justice were sometimes slower than molasses in the dead of winter.

TAG @Javia, @Wayfarer

"Just did get here," the marshal answered  as he walked back into the office. "Here with breakfast, I see. I'll trust there's no file in there, so we'll dispense with the idea of a search."

"Not your breakfast but your prisoner's," Clara smiled back then added, "And a file takes too much time. I just baked in a Winchester in the bread."

She did respect that he trusted her though.

"Just headed back to see our prisoner, wondering why she has not been arraigned as yet, there's nothing I know of on the docket more important than this case. I know it doesn't look good Clara, but, at the moment it will be real hard to defend. Witnesses have come forward, there was a bullet hole in his hat, and she had the gun in her hand as they tried to restrain her, or she would have fired again given the chance."

Clara listened with a frown then gave her take on it all, "First off I'd have to hear who these witnesses are. If they are creatures of Steelgrave I would place no credence in anything they said. And so far I have only heard she shot the man's hat, perhaps that is all she was aiming for? Who's to say for certain."

"I find it a fine kettle of fish that a young girl is behind bars for shooting a hat but meanwhile no charges have been filed against those who attacked my father's farm, burnt down his barn, and tried to kill my entire family," she added with dripping bitterness.

With that he walked out, thinking perhaps he needed to go see this new Judge and find out what the delay was. It was odd that the arraignment had not taken place, but then again the wheels of justice were sometimes slower than molasses in the dead of winter.

"I find it a fine kettle of fish that a young girl is behind bars for shooting a hat but meanwhile no charges have been filed against those who attacked my father's farm, burnt down his barn, and tried to kill my entire family," she added with dripping bitterness.

He did not get far when Clara voiced her objections to the supposed witnesses. Speed stopped and turned, stepping back toward the woman, "I do understand your feeling on this matter Clara, honestly I do. Now I was not present when all of this happened. What I do know is what was written in the complaint, which included her statement that she would 'stomp him to death.' That was preceded by the phrase 'I'll get you, and an earlier statement attributed to her, 'Let go! I'm gonna kill him!! He set fire to Mister Redmond's Barn,' which was from a Mister Craddock, I believe. at any rate, Clara, Jemima has dug a pretty deep hole for herself I'm afraid."

@Javia @Wayfarer

"I do understand your feeling on this matter Clara, honestly I do. Now I was not present when all of this happened. What I do know is what was written in the complaint, which included her statement that she would 'stomp him to death.' That was preceded by the phrase 'I'll get you, and an earlier statement attributed to her, 'Let go! I'm gonna kill him!! He set fire to Mister Redmond's Barn,' which was from a Mister Craddock, I believe. at any rate, Clara, Jemima has dug a pretty deep hole for herself I'm afraid."

Clara was not convinced still, or did not want to be, "One can just as easily write down falsehoods as say them aloud. I would think an officer of the law would keep an open mind about such things. Especially as you were no more present there as myself."

"Now I have a breakfast that is getting cold if you do not mind," Clara excused herself then turned and marched into where they kept the prisoners. Jemima was the only person in there, behind bars and reading a Bible. The prisoner looked up.Clara forced a smile, that was never an easy thing for her at the best of times...well, unless it was for a very select few people in her life like Jacob. Emeline, and of course her father and brother.

"Hello, Jemima. I have brought you some breakfast. There are flapjacks and bacon plus a hard boiled egg. Oh and an apple for a snack later."

"How are you doing? You look well enough."

Keeping an open mind, yes, he was able to do that when the evidence and the witnesses were not as strong as these were. It was not that he would want to see harm come to anyone, with a few exceptions, especially not a distraught young lady who apparently was somewhat impulsive. The part about her talking in tongues was quite intriguing as he had heard of it back east, but had never experienced that sort of religious ferver.

Speed dropped into his chair, and all of the paperwork was caught up, although Charlie might drop by, Speed had given him a week off, and now he himself was back at it, Pronto would show up when things were settled at the ranch of his. Whatever needed doing at the office across the street at Wood and Guyer had been taken care of last evening with Alice. He smiled to himslf. He was a lucky man.

Circulars were still waiting to be looked at, although most of the posters were from the bigger towns and cities around, mostly to the east and south. It was not like troublemakers would be making their way here. Copper mining had yet to take off, and what gold or silver was being mined was small potatoes to date. It was the coming railroad that he was most concerned about. That could and would bring trouble to Kalispell, trouble the town did not need, but the railroad? that would cause growth, both for the good and for the bad. The coffee on the stove had started to boil, so he went over, took up the pot with a leather glove, and set it on the sideboard he had for just that purpose.

Clara Lutz? She could take all the time she wanted or needed. Miss Wigfall needed all the positive company she could get.