"Thank you, I'd like some coffee." Jonah nodded as he claimed an empty chair, hoping he wasn't intruding on anyone's regular seat. He looked the place over, finding it more of a fortress than a home, and it gave him even more respect for these men who were devoted to keeping Leah safe.
"Just because Steelegrave is slowed down some," he observed, "doesn't make him any less dangerous. It just gives him more time to think about things, about what he wants to do, or can do, or should do, once he's recovered."
That was a problem with being idle and bored, it could make a man mean, and if the man was already mean...
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Bannister was first to laugh, followed by the others, but it was Santee who spoke first. "You got yerself a good read on that man, but here's the thing, Elias is plottin' alla the time. Sick 'er half dead, his mind don't never stop. He wants Lost Lake, like an itch what cain't be scratched."
"Last I heard," Fraiser began, that's almost given up on, like I was sayin', he believes that even with that tunnel onto the Lost Lake range, it's all but outright suicide to attempt it, and he's plumb against the risk."
"So, what's left?" Bannister asked, the answer being obvious.
"Well now, I seen ol' Cole Latham an' thet boot licker of a Postmaster hightailin' out toward the Evergreen, I reckon that'd be about the Mrs. being back in town. So I'm thinkin' anything a tall is on the table fer whot he might wanna do. So addin' this fellers shootin' ability might be a good thing." Gilcrest informed them. "Don't know that it means the hospital, 'er Leah an' Elinor."
That gave them pause.
"He wouldn't dare," Jonah growled, "enough to damage buildings, but the ladies..?" Of course, he knew that was a distinct possibility, he just hoped that Elias wasn't that deranged or determined.
"Perhaps the ladies should move into my place?" he suggested, quickly amending, "the clinic, I mean. There's plenty of room, enough land around to see someone coming, and even rooms you gentlemen can use."
It might be a bit cozy, what with patients coming and going, but for the most part the upstairs rooms were unused, and at night, the lower floor clinic rooms were available...and, although the big house was on the edge of town, the fenced yard around it would make it difficult for anyone to sneak up on them.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
"He wouldn't dare," Jonah growled, "enough to damage buildings, but the ladies..?" Of course, he knew that was a distinct possibility, he just hoped that Elias wasn't that deranged or determined.
All of the men in the room looked at Jonah, realizing that though the good Doctor may have an inkling of what Elias Steelgrave might do, he had no concept of what the man could, and would do.
"Perhaps the ladies should move into my place?" he suggested, quickly amending, "the clinic, I mean. There's plenty of room, enough land around to see someone coming, and even rooms you gentlemen can use."
"Well, If Miss Steelgrave moves, we'll move. And yer offer makes sense. I mean alla us in the same place, yep, makes sense ta me." Gilcrest agreed.
"We might oughtta ride on over an' have a look." Bannister agreed. "May be better'n this place, an' we'd know when she was on the move an' where she'd be goin'." There was a murmur of agreement among them. "hate ta see yer place shot up Doc."
Santee grinned, "Easier to defend her when she's not out and about."
"Hate to see her shot up," Jonah mumbled with a grin. "Doesn't matter about the house, if they start shooting at it, well, better than other places. There's plenty of interior rooms, the second floor and an attic." Plenty of places to get out of the way of flying bullets!
And it dawned on him that the men had seen the building from the outside a few times, maybe had been in the foyer a time or two, but had never been beyond that.
"Best you men check it over before we approach Leah about the idea." After all, if they didn't think the house was a good choice, there was no point in even asking Leah about it, not that he actually expected Leah to agree. "We can go look at it now..."
Storyteller / Shared NPC
"As would we all," Bannister stated. Learning to shoot, to draw, alla that's real fine, but killin' a man, now there's the tough part. Lookin' at a man in the eye that's gonna kill, and that's those men out ta the Evergreen. There ain't no talkin', maklin' deals 'er promises. Time comes Doc, ya gotta kill 'em."
"Here," Fraiser said thumping his chest, "Put yer shot right there. Maybe you shoot 'em in the head. but you get lead in him first!"
"Ain't like them dime novels, you get lead in 'em he's likely to go down, then you shoot 'em again! You shoot 'em til he's dead!" Gilcrest added.
"Sounds bad, an' it is, but it's the difference between livin' an dyin'. Banister said, "So, yeah. we can ride on over an' have us a look see. Good idea."
Jonah listened to the advice from the seasoned men, certain that they knew what they were talking about first hand. He'd never been in a position to make the choice to kill someone, a perk of knowing when to cut and run, but he had little doubt now that he'd do what he had to should Leah, or even Elinor, be threatened. Heck, he'd do what he had to for any innocent, and he'd always known that, he'd just never had to test it.
So, the next order of business was evaluating the house/clinic as a better place for Leah and Elinor to stay. The upper floors could easily be assigned to the ladies, so that there would be no impropriety, and there were rooms downstairs the men could use. There would be some arranging to do, but the multi-story Victorian would likely be a better defensive structure.
The house, on the edge of town, set in a large yard surrounded by a low picket fence, took on a new appearance when Jonah looked at it from a strategic standpoint.
"What do you think?" he asked his companions as he stopped his horse outside the gate.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Gilcrest sat his saddle looking at the house, like others in the area it was big, but then he was a doctor and he should be in the high-rent district!
"You sure you want a bunch of saddle tramps in that fine house?" Carson asked as the men looked over the exterior of the house. "Shut yer mouth Doc, yer catchin' flies!"
Gilcrest shot him an angry look, "Jest you mind yer bidness, Carson!"
"Place is a palace, Jonah. Hope ya don't mind me usin' yer Christian name, too many Doc's 'round these parts." Santee stated as he looked over the house. "Like you said, the place is easily defended, great field of fire from most every vantage point. Just don't care to have the place shot up. Maybe we mover her an' her mother, if she'll have it at night when there ain't so many busybodies about."
"Good point, Santee, Easier to defend the move that way. And, is there a place for the horses? Maybe outta sight?" Bannister asked.
"There's a small stable around back." Dismounting, Jonah tied his horse to the fence, then started toward the house. "We can look at that first, but it's only big enough for two, maybe three horses." He hadn't thought about needing a place for other animals. "I suppose it can be easily expanded, there's plenty of room."
He led the way around the back of the house where there was a small stable that housed a simple buggy as well as two stalls. A chicken coop was built against one side, although the chickens currently had free run of the yard.
"What do you think? It shouldn't be too hard to expand."
Storyteller / Shared NPC
"I suppose it can be easily expanded, there's plenty of room."
"Reckon that would be easy enough," Bannister stated confidently, a rare smile cracked his normally somber face.
He led the way around the back of the house where there was a small stable that housed a simple buggy as well as two stalls. A chicken coop was built against one side, although the chickens currently had free run of the yard.
"Got yerself a nice piece 'o property here, Doc." Carson said as he looked over the clearing behind and on the side of the house, "Be a safe bet you'd see anyone headed toward the place."
"What do you think? It shouldn't be too hard to expand."
"No sir, cain't be too dern diffie'cult ta get done."Gilcrest agreed, "Best get us some lumber, betwixt us, we'll have the add-on part done afore ya know it!"
"Well, first we gotta talk with Miss Steelgrave about the move before we go ta buildin' anything." Santee reminded them.
