Truth be told, Emeline was relieved at the proposal. Any time Barnabas was acting as a lawman she held her breath and worried, that was only natural. Still, she didn't want him to quit because of that, or she was afraid he'd resent her, and the decision.
"There's certainly plenty to keep the men busy," she commented quietly, "and it isn't as if we need the income. Honestly, I know there's enough around the ranch to keep Barnabas' attention, so aside from the community's need."
Sighing, she shrugged. "We don't want to leave them unprotected, nor put Mr. Wentworth in danger, but there's nothing to stop us from looking for suitable replacements, right?" She glanced at Barnabas. "Unless you'd prefer to stay with the job...even if it makes me nervous."
There, she'd finally said it, not that she had any delusion that her husband didn't already suspect, if not know, her feelings on the matter!
Storyteller / Shared NPC
She had both Speed and Barnabas' attention. Perhaps neither had thought of how their choices affected the women in their lives. Or, perhaps, both men had given thought to just that, the feelings of the two women. Granted it was a time of male dominance in America, but the frontier was different from the East and its norms. In the West a woman could, and did, make whatever she was strong enough to do.
"Maybe what you've said is what we should do." Speed offered.
"We wouldn't leave Kalispell without protection, not with trouble brewing," Pike stated.
"Exactly, were we to want to stand aside. And you've a point as to our own search for replacements. But then is that not the job of the Mayor and the town council?" Speed asked.
Pike shook his head, "And where would we look? And what time would we, Speed and I, have to search out men to replace us?
Many were the questions the two had for gaining their replacements. And many were the thoughts of those other two at the table weighing the discussion.
"Well, I do agree that it's not your place to find replacements," Emeline pointed out, "it's up to the mayor and council. And you can actually step down whenever you'd like, what are they going to do about it?"
It wasn't as if anyone could force the men to remain law enforcement, should they decide they didn't want that any more. "You are men of honor, though, and wouldn't do that without giving them a chance to find replacements." She shrugged. "If you decide that...as soon as you decide that, you need to let them know, so they can start looking."
Speed looked over at Pike, both looking quite serious at that moment. This was not something either had openly discussed. There had never even been a hint either had thought of it.
"Hadn't given it a lot of thought, 'cept it's crossed my mind that maybe it's too much trying to deputy and run the ranch," Pike said. "Thought on it some back in Frisco, and I can't say as I didn't ponder the idea in Virginia City, down Nevada way. But, they'll need a man to take over who can help Charlie get his bearing as a lawman."
Speed almost smiled, "Odd, we never spoke about this, and actually, this is not where I would have spoken of it, however, the idea had crossed my mind long before I was shot." He began, "But yes, the idea has been on my mind a great deal over time. It was more about the mining business and the time it needed long before Amos here located and bought the two mines. It has been about Alice since the day she showed up here and my plans for us. Maybe it is time, but, the railroad."
"Speed Guyer, you know that I would never ask you to quit the Marshals job, not ever!" Alice declared. "You were the Marshal when I got here and it made no difference, and you were the Marshall when you were shot. No, I didn't like it, but it is the risk the two of you take each and every single day. What you decide to do is each of your choices."
Emeline shot Alice an appreciative smile and a slight nod. "Exactly." She turned her attention to Barnabas. "That's why I haven't really discussed it, it has to be your decision." Sighing, she shrugged, trying to find the words. "If you quit just because of me, I'm afraid...I just don't want you to resent the choice."
After all, from the time she'd known him, law enforcement had been part of who he was, and she didn't want him to set that aside too readily, not that he couldn't pick it up again if he chose.
"But Alice is right, notwithstanding our feelings, nor that there is plenty to do on the ranch, and that we don't need the income, the choice is yours." She smiled sweetly to show she was teasing...a little!
Alice returned the smile, "Perhaps you gentlemen need to decide which it will be, continuing on, or making a change." She smiled at Speed, "It is not quite as simple as it sounds, I know. However, I know you, and I know you will do what you believe to be the right move for you."
Pike was thinking about it when Speed spoke up, "Well, it's not a decision that needs to be made this evening. There are things that need to be done well ahead of any changes we may decide to make that affect others, Matt Wentworth for openers."
"That all sounds real good to be steppin' outta this job, and the responsibility that goes right with it. And I'd be lyin' if I was to say I'd be anxious to step aside, 'cuz I just ain't. But somewhere's somethin's gotta give."
"Reckon you boys done stepped in it now!" Amos pointed out. "If'in ya ain't considerin' the range war threat, them outlaws out there thet's been rustlin' at will, not ta mention the railroads a headed this way an' bringin' thet Hell On Wheels outfit with it. Finding a man, any man willin' to take all that on, well, best'a luck on 'at 'un!"
"This isn't something that needs to be gone into hastily," Emeline agreed, "and it certainly does require thought." She glanced at Barnabas. "I want you to be happy, and we have time to discuss it."
His mind might well change abruptly once their child was here. Even though he knew they would soon be a family, there was something about actually holding that small life that changed your outlook. And mentions of range wars and railroad camps didn't encourage her any!
"Don't the railroad camps have their own law enforcement?" she asked. Not that local law would need to completely step back, but for the most part they shouldn't have to worry about what was going on out on the line, right?
Pike smiled, it was not decided, at least not for him, but it seemed to be something he would consider. He had a lot of lines in the water, so to speak. The idea of hanging up his badge, and perhaps even his guns was not an unattractive
"No sense gettin' in an uproar, not exactly in a place where I could back away from the job." He looked over at Speed, "Too much that's uncertain right now wouldn't you say?"
"I would. and the answer you're looking for is yes, the railroad has men to enforce their rules, but as far as laws, I can't be certain they would do anything while there was town law to enforce the laws of the land. They can be good men, and they can be the worst sort."
Alice looked unhappy at the thought that men sworn to keep the peace anywhere, for anybody would do just that, not the opposite. "You're saying that this, what was it, Hell On Wheels? You're saying they might just let their p[people run wild? With no repercussions?"
"That is what I said. We won't know until they get here, I can and will wire towns that are along their route to see what they have to say but about Hell On Wheels." Speed replied. But that has little to do with the mines or our company."
"Right as the mail, Speed. Amos stated. "Most times, ladies, gettin' inta bein' lawmen is a whole lot easier than getin' outta it. Rasin' men ta posse ain't much easier, neither."
Pike shook his head, "Man's right, an' if that's our choice then we'll be workin' at akin' it easier. But, we ain't come ta that point as yet, I don't believe. 'Sides, we got nobody could do the job, 'cept maybe the men of Miss Steelgraves." He looked at Em reassuringly.
"Well, if they come into town and make trouble, you just hand out shotguns to me, Alice, Clara, even Addy and Lean Steelgrave!" Emeline declared, completely serious. "They wouldn't dare cause trouble with ladies, especially pregnant ones!" Glancing at Alice, she added, "Clara and I, of course. We'll keep any troublemakers in line!"
Of course, that would never be allowed, although it would likely be effective so long as the men from the camp weren't troublemakers, more than just rowdies out to have some fun.
"There's time for that, and other things to worry on in the mean time. And we have time to know what we might be facing." Speed's idea was good, to find out how the members of the rail camp behaved, and how well they were monitored.
It was Amos who burst out laughing. "That'd do 'er by cracky! Arm the ladies!"
"So, my question is, how did this meeting get this far from the mining business? Now, so far as arming the women, I could see where that just might be a solution, fact is, might well become a necessity, but then too, they would need to be prepared to shoot to kill if need be!" Speed paused then to let that sink in. "I would say, that unless we Pike and I have a change of heart, we won't be making any retirement decisions 'till we know what the town might be up against with the railroad camp and it's inhabitants."
"My way of thinking, prezackly!" Pike stated. "Be a low-down skunk that'd quit the town when they was needed most, but, like Speed just said, we need to see what this Hell On Wheels camp is all about before we arm the whole blamed town and start us a war. "Core, we do got the Army close to hand."
Alice listened to her husband and his deputy, their close friend before she said, "Now which do you think would be worse, the camp people, or Marshal Law? Because that is exactly what the Army would impose on us as well as the railroad people, without so much as a howdy do!"
The table got quiet.
