The average age of men in the United States between 1875 and 1879 was 43.7 years. Elias Braden Steelgrave was fifty-seven when his heart sent him a message, a very strong message. Thanks to his Chinese Houseboy he survived it, and Doctor Jonah Danforth had rushed to the Evergreen to treat him.

Now a younger man having the same attack may well have died. That was just a fact of life in the West, but a younger man would have stood a much better chance of survival than Elias. Fast action and nitroglycerine made the difference, otherwise Elias would have been dead when Danforth arrived.

Most would be grateful to have beaten the reaper, but Elias, though grateful he wasn't dead was not happy with the time he was sentenced to bed rest. Long after the few days Danforth prescribed, Ling had him resting in his room, which had suddenly become his cell. That, he did not like, not at all!

Ling was persistent about his diet, and about staying in bed unless he was accompanied to the necessary outside, or for short walks inside the house. Ling did relent, however, and allowed a bed to be made up in his study with the windows that looked out over the Evergreen range. As the days passed, he was allowed to spend some time in the Parlor.

But Elias was far from being his old cantankerous self, and he knew it. He needed to regain his strength, he must focus on getting stronger and not fight the restrictions Ling was placing on him. This might have been to his advantage, except for two separate pairs of men rushing to reach him with news of his wife, Elinor's presence in Kalispell, and information he needed to be aware of.

Would all of this disruption cause yet another heart attack, or with luck just a setback in his recovery? Only time will tell.

Elias enjoyed the time spent in the parlor, it gave him time to think, which was probably not the best idea, and he had nothing better to do than think, no matter where he was in the house. Thoughts came and went rapid fire though one thing was becoming clearer to him, even after all of the time spent vowing to kill Shade Thornton and burn the Lost Lake Ranch to the ground.

It was nigh impossible to get it done. the cost to assault the ranch would be high, even using the tunnel and there was no guarantee of success at any price. The shooting from the mountain was foolhardy at best, as his men had told him more than once. A frontal assault was suicide, plain and simple, and for what? That was what was actually getting through to him, the payoff was just not there.

And then there was Leah and her hospital. That was a different animal altogether, with its own problems to look at. In order to strike a blow at his rebellious daughter and her pet project, he would need to send men to town, into town and that meant getting them back out again. He knew who the law was, Guyer, Pike, and that kid, Wentworth. Of him, he knew very little, just he was brother to the new mayor, Matt Wentworth, and the Wentworth clan.

Of course, he mused that an attack on Kalispell could be costly as he enjoyed the Chinese tea Ling had brought him. Then again a few men in the middle of the night? Wentworth would be on duty, probably asleep in the jail between rounds if they played it right. That was the sticking point, would Wentworth be on duty? What if it was Pike? But he was married and likely Speed wouldn't ask the rancher to work at night. So that left the Marshal himself.

Then again, there were the men who 'protected' Leah. Wasn't there at least one of them on guard at the hospital site? And they would not be asleep, they had been his men and he knew them all. Whoever it was would not hesitate to fight. Again, there would be a cost, if one of his men was killed or at least shot from his horse and left behind, then it would be known that the Evergreen was at fault, and that could mean real trouble.

This might take some planning, even though he told the doctor it would be safe, that had been a lie. Kalispell was not safe. Not while the Evergreen had over thirty hands that were good with the guns that they wore. He just didn't need any new problems.

The knocking at the door aroused Elias, but not enough for him to get up. Probably one of the hands. Ling would answer it and deal with whoever was there in short order, so he returned to reading the latest issue of the Union which the boys had brought back from town for him.

Ling hurried to the door and pulled it open to see the bedraggled pair standing there. "Come in. You both remove boots, have slippers, Take off slickers and wet hats. Mister Ashworf, please to wait while I get cloth to wash face, and hands before see Mister Steelgrave."

"This is fairly urgent Ling, a matter of great importance to Mister Steelgrave." Latham pleaded. "Ashworth can wait until he's cleaned up, but I need to see Elias."

"Yes, yes, everything velly important. Yes, yes, you go." Ling relented. And without a second thought to his partner, he bolted to the parlor.

"Elias, how are you doing?" He asked relieved to see him up and dressed, sans a tie and coat, of course.

"Much better thank you you. What's going on out there?" Elias wanted to know. "Is that Ashworth in the entry hall? Some sort of problem?"

"Yes, he fell pushing the buckboard free of a hole we were in. Ling is lending a hand cleaning him up." Was the response.

"Alright then, so what is it that drags you boys out here in this weather, and mind you Cole, it better be good!" Elias stated, and he meant that, even if having some company was better than just Ling, or, Arlen Granger, or even one of the hands.

"Well then, there's no easy way to say this." He swallowed just as Ling and Nolan entered the parlor. "Elinor is back, and in town at the hotel."

Elias went pale and sat down heavily in his overstuffed chair. Ling was right there and had his bottle of nitroglycerine, Elias attempted to wave him away, to no avail, that was not something Ling was going to do.

"All sit! say nothing!" He ordered as he looked over the man he was caring for. He was relieved as the color came back in Elias' face, and his breathing returned to near normal. "I bring tea, you remain quiet until Misser Steelgrave be more himself." He paused and watched his master, "Not worry about missing wife who returns. She is not here to cause you trouble, these two do that for you."

As Ling started toward the hallway, which would lead to the kitchen he paused, "You speak softly to him about this woman. Not excite him."

"Yes, yes we will." Cole Latham agreed. Then he looked at Elias, "I'm sorry, Elias, but we thought you should know that Elinor is back, with Leah, Danforth, and Josiah Boone, I saw them on the boardwalk. This can't be good."

"No matter, you were right to come here and let me know. This damned heart problem is getting better, it was just a bit of a shock that she is here. Now the question is, why?" He asked,  "Maybe her daughter's success, but how would she know of it? Maybe a spy in town keeps her apprised of such things. No matter, she is here and there's a reason, we need to find that out! You need to find that out, and quickly!" Elias was back to himself and demanding as usual. "I need to follow the doctor's orders, and those of that damned Chinaman who promises me I'll be just fine if I rest and do what is needed! You handle this, get to the bottom of it, and damn it! Keep me posted! Now get out and let me rest!" To emphasize this he waved them toward the door, and both men responded by getting up and moving in that direction.

The door closed almost quietly as the two men returned to the waiting buckboard after getting their boots and slickers on. From inside Elias and Ling could hear them start out.

"Men have bad information?" Ling asked.

"Could be. Could be the worst information since that woman walked out of here and disappeared. Well, for a short period before she was located for me." Elias told Ling. "That she is with my daughter, and they seem to be getting along, this could be just short of a disaster in the making!"

"Not have wife. Maybe as more Chinese come Kalispell, Ling find wife."

"More Chinese? Here?" Elias asked as he had not heard of more Chinese moving into Kalispell.

"Maybe, not sure yet, not been to town, but is possible. Mining going on. Copper mining. Need workers. Town need good laundry, many things for Chinese to do in Kalispell." Ling informed him. "Time you go to bed now. Take medicine. Worry tomorrow."

Elias grumbled as he started for the staircase. But, he went.

       _______________~______________

The sleet and the flurries had stopped, and the clouds broke to reveal the fading last quarter moon that shed what light it projected on the old Whitefish Trail, which made the trip, cold as it was, a bit better.

"So what do you plan to do, Cole?" Nolan asked, "I can watch the mail, but that may not prove to be much."

"Agreed, and as to what I plan to do? I haven't the foggiest notion of what I'm going to do to find out anything from Elinor Steelgrave. She most certainly won't confide in me, if she'll even speak to me. Leah, another blank, as is Josiah Boone and, wait, Danforth. Maybe Danforth would divulge something if I went to see him about my gout, which seems to be flaring up again, that's it!"

"Engage the man in conversation during my visit as I always have and simply ask. What harm can that do, he would know that I know her. That just might work."

"Yes, I think you're right. Maybe he would let slip something to carry back to Elias." Ashworth agreed. "You know I had approached Elias about a telegraph key out there, but the cost to string the wire was prohibitive, and he didn't trust you Wigfall at all."

Continued in "The Things You See On Main Street"

Wednesday, March 1, 1877 Overcast with snow, light to moderate.

Ling was in need of some supplies for Mister Steelgrave and his recovery, which would require a trip into Kalispell. Even with the weather, not unlike his home had been in China, he would make do. He always made do. He had the use of a horse and that would be all he needed. He dressed for the wether, had his list of necessary ingredients for his master, he was glooped and had a warm fur lined hat.

With his horse saddled, the Chinaman mounted and rode out at a brisk trot. If he could hold the pace he was traveling at he would make good time and be back later that afternoon. Supper was cooking and Sour Dough was keeping an eye on the roast slow cooking in the cast iron pot on the wood stove, though Ling would not dally. He would get in and get out, barring any problems, which he did not foresee.

Kalispell was a quiet town, unlike San Francisco which had been busy at all hours it seemed, people coming and going, noise to where a man could hardly sleep. The trip east to this remote little village was different. Oh, there were those noises associated with a cattle ranch, a minor annoyance. Men did not come and go all night making noise as if there was no one else about. It was pleasant.

Once in town, he wasted little time procuring the things which he needed. Everyone was so pleasant, this made his trip a bit more enjoyable than he thought it would be in spite of the weather, until he was approached by a man with a badge on the buffalo coat he wore,

"Excuse me, do you speak English?" Speed inquired hopefully, thinking the man must, with the package he was carrying.

"I do, Ling replied, "Velly well actually, how can I help?"

I wonder, would you have contacts in San Francisco who are in the business of fireworks whom I might contact?" Speed asked, a bit excitedly.

"I have nam of cousin who works at Shanghai Firework Company, name of Chaing Singh, he bossman, and have telegraph. You wire him." The Oriental explained. I am Kim Lee, use my name. Solly, I in a hurry to get back Evergreen, you wire Chaing." And he hurried off.

Speed was elated! Now he could get a quote thanks to this Kim Lee!

"LING!" Elias shouted, throwing off the blanket that covered him. "Where the hell have you been? What time is it? How long have I been asleep?" He demanded, not sure of anything at the moment, groggy from his nap.

Ling scurried from the kitchen, bowing, "I go to town, get ingredients for medicine for you. Maybe you asleep two, maybe three hour. Coffee almost ready."

Elias visibly relaxed in his overstuffed chair. "Anything new in Kalispell?" He was fishing, even though he was sure that the Chinaman would have no information on anything to impart. After all, who would he talk to?

"Circus come Kalispell. Man with badge ask about fireworks from San Francisco. I tell him name of man who can help." Ling replied as he looked toward the fireplace, which needed his attention. "Big celebration they plan for Jurye he say. Will men here go to this?"

"A circus is it? And when is this supposed to happen?" Elias asked, with an ulterior motive, to be sure. But then he was resigned to the fact that the Lost Lake Ranch was just something he would not be able to get at, no matter how he tried or how many men he had.

"He say Jurye forf. Plan big celebration, I bet go on for days." Ling replied, loading another log in the fire. "There, be warmer now. You want coffee?"

"I do. A big celebration you say, how exciting." Elias was giving this some thought.

They say big circus come, have dance, contests, food. Be big time event. People come from everywhere to celebrate in  Kalispell for Founders Day. Maybe you go. Maybe you have some fun, maybe you not kill anyone from Lost Lake Ranch." Ling continued.

"Now what's the fun in that, Ling? I mean if I'm there, and so is Shade Thornton, one of us will pull first," Elias said. "I surely can't let him get the drop on me, now, can I?" Elias replied with a question.

"You not serious. Shade, he maybe not looking for fight with you, maybe not even have gun with him."

"Ling, that man always carries a gun." Elikas responded, "Fancies himself some sort of gunfighter. If he's there, and I for one, doubt he'd show his face in public, then he'll be armed, and there will be a fight. He killed my son, Cal, Calvin, and I aim to even the books on that one."

You need let it go! Calm down. Heart not ready for that. Be bad you have another attack. Not kill anyone but you." Ling cautioned.

Elias took a breath, which did not come as easily as it should have. "I think you're right, Ling, maybe some tea. That might help. The special kind."

"You take it easy now. Sit back, relax, I get tea." Ling replied. Elias merely nodded and sat back, doing as he was told.