Tuesday, March 6th, Late Afternoon, a light breeze and a dusting of snow.

Cole Latham had been out to Rosce Yates farm where he had discussed the idea of fire insurance with the farmer and his wife, Nellieann, a fruitless endeavor, it would seem, neither was at all interested in paying money for something they could not have in their possession, like a mule. He had tried as hard as a man might to sell the policy but to no avail. Most of a day wasted.

As an attorney, he had branched out to selling insurance since there was no insurance salesman within a hundred miles of Kalispell to service the people living there. A prime opportunity for the right man and he had jumped on thanks to a contact in Helena.

He was bundled up tight, his hat pulled down, the wool muffler covering his chin to his nose as he entered the town proper slowing from a trot to a walk, a slicker used as protection over his lap as the snow, either falling from the sky, or being blown off of tree branches pelted him, and now, that being blown from the roof, balconies, and the sides of buildings continued the onslaught. A miserable day!

And then just passing the Lickskillet cafe, on the boardwalk there were several recognizable figures, Doctor Danforth with Leah Steelfgrave on his arm and Doctor Boone with none other than Misses Elinor Steelgrave on his! Unbelievable.

He whipped up the horse, now in a rush to get to the livery and then to his office, or better yet, to the postmaster's office in the Municipal Building to share this with Nolan Ashworth. This was big news and news that had to get out to the Evergreen Ranch and Elias himself!

There was no mail to concern Postmaster, Nolan Ashworth, so he sat in his office, a fair-sized space walled off from the mailroom where the actual work was done. It was complete with a stove. He enjoyed the afternoons in the office reading the paper and drinking coffee. There was hardly ever anything pressing at that time of day. And if there was, well, either he put it off or grudgingly took care of it right then. Customers? Those, no matter how demanding, rude, or condescending, he smiled and handled the matter as cordially as possible. Nolan was not what one would call outgoing and friendly.

The door burst open and a wet, cold, Cole Latham rushed in slamming the door behind him. Nolan! You'll ne-never ge, ge, guess wh- who, who's ba, ba, back-" He stopped trying to talk as he hovered over the stove, trying to soak in the heat.

"Easy Gole, easy, just warm yourself. Here, let me pour you some coffee while you thaw out." Ashworth commented to his friend. "Whoever it might be won't have left before you warm yourself." The man rose, took up the pot, and poured some into one of the spare tin cups. Of course, they were porcelain-lined, as Ashworth liked nothing but the best.

It took some five minutes before the heat from the stove, and the hot coffee worked their magic and Cole was getting comfortable. The shaking had stopped, and he sighed as he began to feel like himself.

"Elinor Steelgrave!" He dropped the name like a lead weight.

"Jumping Geehosofat!" Ashworth exclaimed, "Are you sure? Wait no, that can't be true Cole. Why last we heard, she was in the east. Naw-lins, if I remember correctly.

"Well the virulent woman was on the boardwalk;k as plain as the nose on your face." He countered. "I think I'd know the malicious, spiteful, overbearing woman when I see her! After all these years, she's not changed much at all, so far as appearances go. Buttering up her daughter, the other snake in the grass, old Doc Boone, and young Danforth. There's trouble brewing I swear to God!

"Easy now Cole." Nolan soothed. "Then we need to go out to the Evergreen and let Elias know so she don't take him blindside! No way I'd not want him to know. But he's on bed rest. That chink he's got runs that house, and let's no on in that ain't been called by the man himself. At least that was what I heard yesterday, a couple of his boys were in town for supplies."

"That shaves no bark with me!" Cole bellowed. "Elias needs to know she's back, and as fast as we can get out there. There's no one else that'll go, and the weather's plain miserable I tell you! Best we get the two up buggy from the livery, and it'll still be slow going with the damned mud, sleet, and rain to contend with."

"Think maybe you oughtta get some dry duds on? I mean yeah, we'll get wet, but not like you'd be in the same wet clothes you got on now. Dry boots'd be good too. There's time. She's not headed out there, and might not have any intention of going out there, ever." He shook his head, But you're right, he needs to know, it could spell real trouble for him."

Both men had gone to Latham's office where the man had spare clothing that he would wear working around the place. His office was his home, a converted front room was the office, and the bedroom and kitchen were adjacent and, for the times, he had another two suits along with what he called range clothes, in a box with his long handles. So he dressed as warmly as possible, complete with dry work boots, the lace-up kind, his slicker, and an old hat. They were ready to go, and Ashworth was dressed comparably.

The two-up buckboard provided them with no cover like a buggy would have, but with a pair of sturdy horses, they would make good time through the mud, something that would be with them for quite some time to come. There was no running the horses, not with the soft mud, but a trot was possible so long as they walked the team at intervals. It was going to be a long miserable drive to the Evergreen, one both men believed they needed to make for their benefactor.

The trip was mostly a silent, jarring one as buckboards were known for. Although, they were hard to beat when it came to light hauling. What Elias would think of this was all but unimportant, it was what they had to say that would generate a response from Elias. The question both men had was the same, what was she doing back in Kalispell, what threat did she present for Elias? There were no immediate answers to those queries, though none was expected. They were two men with information plodding through the mudd on the Whitefish trail toward the Evergreen ranch.

Despite the weather, which tended to be on and off misery, flurries with a hint of sleet, they were making good time even with the Whitefish Road a mess. The two were jostled, bumped, and all but tossed out of the buckboard a couple of times. It was enough to make the pair wonder why they did these things for a man who barely appreciated their efforts.

They were within a mile of the turnoff, or the trail to the Evergreen even though the ranch property came all the way up to the road. Things seemed to smooth out and both breathed a cautious breath of relief. They were just slowing some to make the turn when the right rear wheel sank to the hub, and everything stopped suddenly

Latham was barely able to keep his bearings, though he was lifted off of the bench seat quite precariously, while Nolan Ashworth left the conveyance abruptly, landing a few feet from the backboard. "Goldamn it!" He shouted, careful not to take the Lord's name in vain as he got to his feet. He looked at the wheel, then to Latham. "Sunk to the hub! Whip 'em up, and see if they can pull free of it!"

Cole snapped the lines and shouted to the horses, who all but leaped forward trying their best to respond to the driver, but to no avail, the animals struggled as they lost footing, and the buckboard rolled backward. Still stuck.

"Gonna have to push, Nolan!" Cole shouted back. Nolan said not a word but stepped up to the wagon and put his shoulder to it as Cole snapped the ribbons and the horses lunged forward and burst out of the hole, Ashworth fell face first in the mud.

If there was one thing Nolan Ashworth prided himself on, it was his appearance, and getting to his feet splattered with mud was not how he would consider being seen, however, there was no alternative, and hopefully, Elias would allow him to clean up there, as well as he could. It was not like he was covered in mud, but his face had gotten a good amount as did the front of his slicker. Of course, the boots that he wore were covered in it from pushing the buckboard. He was, however, grateful he had not landed in the slop that was the trail.

"Damnation Cole! I hope we have a good reason for this!" He bellowed as he climbed back aboard the conveyance. "Christ's sake I look a mess." The buckboard lurched forward as the horse leaned into the harness and pulled forward.

"Won't be long now, and yes, Elias will want to know that Elinor is back in town, whatever that might mean in the grand scheme of things. It might mean nothing, but neither of them would believe that even if Elias said as much.

In a matter of minutes, they pulled up next to the house and stepped down.

The return trip to Kalispell was a bit slower as it was dark, even with the lantern swinging back and forth. And it was bitter cold as it snowed on and off the whole way. But they were in good spirits, they had done their duty, as they saw it, letting Elias know about Elinor's return to Kalispell.

Sunday Morning, March 7, 1877, Bright sunshine greeted the Sabbath morning.

For Cole Latham it was a chance to sleep in, as he rarely attended services except when it would benefit him to do so. And on this particular morning there seemed to be nothing that would benefit him by his presence in Pastor Gidieon Evens' church. He decided that it would be beneficial if he were to make his way to the Lickskillet for breakfast ahead of the normal Sunday crowd that would fill the place rather quickly once the service was over. As he dressed he could glance out the window while doing his buttons or tying his tie. He hoped to see Elinoe Steelgrave, thinking that according to his watch, there was plenty of time for her to make the service, should she be so inclined, which could and should change his mind about attending.

So his glances were more frequent, but she had not emerged from the hotel as yet.

And so it was that Cole Latham dressed and went downstairs and out of his office door, where he paused, leaning on an awning post waiting, watching the hotel for a sign of either or both of the Steelgrave women when Nolan Ashworth stepped up next to him.

"I see you are of the same mind, that the ladies might attend services, or perhaps go to the Lickskillet for their breakfast," Nolan observed,

"I am, Nolan, that I am, but for the life of me I have no idea what she is doing back here," Cole admitted. "I mean, why leave the luxury of St. Louis, or New Orleans for this place? What does Kalispell have to offer a woman of her tastes, aside from Elias' wrath? Can you answer me that?"

"But that I could Cole,  but that I could. Maybe she in on some land grab we've heard nothing about."

"You have a point, but my sources have said nothing about a land grab," Cole replied, though the wheels were turning. "But what land? The right of ways are already tied up with the Town Council."

Nolan rubbed his chin, "That's true, they are. Tied up tight as a scotchman's purse. So, maybe further out? Maybe above or below the town limits? I mean who knew the railroad was coming this way?"

"Wait, yes, the Town Council has the right of ways, that is true, but beyond those plots along the track?" Cole questioned. "I'll need to wire Edison Conners in Helena and see if there has been any activity as to the procuring of land in this area. That will tell us a great deal. Perhaps it would be best by mail, can't trust the telegraph, no telling who pays for information that young Wigfall has privy to."

"Good idea. And who's to say that the information won't get to you in a coded message, or by return mail, depends on Conners and his awareness of Hector Wigfall." Nolan said. "She's knee-deep in something, that's for sure!" Referring to Elinor Steelgrave. "Wasn't there some sort of internal investigation supposedly underway in Helena?"

"I have heard nothing about what the investigation is about, but you know how they go, eventually they end up with nothing." Was Cole's opinion of government matters? "But I believe I'll ask in my missive to him."

"Yeah, probably a whole lot of nothing." Nolan agreed.

"Well Colle, I think we've barked up the wrong tree. Doesn't seem that they are leaving the hotel for  church or breakfast." Nolan said as he looked at his watch, "But I could use something to eat and coffee I didn't make." He snapped the lid shut and slid the watch into his vest pocket.

"I believe you hit on something. I too am hungry, we could just go on over to the cafe and get away from the cold we're standing around in, and getting nowhere." Cole agreed, "And, there's a chance one of them n][mkight show up after all, if not both."

They both stepped off the boardwalk to cross a near desolate Main Street to the opposite side. Two men basically up to no good, but also two men in need of nourishment. The Lickskillet served up a good breakfast. Though it was cold, the snow had merely been a passing dusting, however, the sky threatened at any moment to open up and snow, or sleet, or just another dusting.

Reaching the Lickskillet, Cole opened the door and the two men stepped inside, closing the door behind them.

(continued in "Breakfast" in the 'Lickskillet' topic)