Latham and Ashworth ducked in out of the cold morning air, and they were in luck, there was a table next to the window available. They walked to it and took their seats. The morning crowd was currently sparse, but then the weather always played into how many would venture out for breakfast, except there would be a good crowd coming in after the service.

Nolan looked out the window and the street was still empty, "Not going to be many coming in until church is out, and we'll be done by then." He said, " And that means we may not encounter our friend this morning."

"Probably not, damn it. I am dying to find out what that woman is up to." Cole groaned. There might be something we could get involved in and make ourselves some money, I mean the last thing Elias needs is more money! His holdings in the east are substantial, even with Elinor, and Leah I suspect have been raiding his accounts."

"We could do that, realistically. If there is something to get involved in where money is to be made, I'm saying yes, let's do it!" Nolan responded enthusiastically. "Hell, why wait on Elias, it is a free country after all. But will she confide in us, that's the question."

"If we can convince her that we are operating on our own and not for Elias, there might be a chance she'll at least consider it. What we need is the barest of information and we can cut ourselves in without either her or Elias! Just to have an idea of what she's here after, and I doubt it's a reunion with Leah, would give us the in we need!" Exclaimed Cole quietly.

Coffee and conversation while they waited for their beefsteaks and eggs to come out of the kitchen, was the order of the morning. True this would be more expensive than the Lickskillet, but both had forgotten that the cafe was never open on Sundays. That had little effect on what they were about because if the ladies came down for breakfast, then they would have the opportunity to speak to them directly, and no matter what anyone said about either of the men, they could be as charming as anyone in town. Crooked as they might be they could blend into any situation, with anyone no matter their station in life.

"Now, just supposing that we gain an audience with Elinor Steelgrave, and we can pose all of our questions about her reasons for being back here in Kalispell. What if there is no reason that would benefit us? Or, she is not willing to confide her reasons to us? What then?" Nolanb Ashworth asked, considering that that just might be the case.

"Well then, we will just have to do our own detective work. We will need to perhaps offer a healthy sum to young Wigfall for what he might uncover for us. Watch the mail, as I am sure you have been doing already, and just plain snoop! There has to be a reason she is here which is about money. We simply need to uncover that reason, which, in reality, should not be that hard. Well, that is the way we should look at this. But we know how our quarry can be, Elinor Steelgrave does nothing that does not enrich her, and she is far from stupid!" Cole explained.

"And who are those two from the east, the attorney and his sleuth? Maybe they might be of some help. I mean weren't they watching  her for Elias?" Nolan asked.

"Not a chance. They are Elias' men and they won't talk to us about Elinor, and no money can bribe them! Simple as that." Cole replied. "They say every man has his price, if they do, we don't have enough money!"

"It was a thought," Ashworth said reluctantly. "I mean, there has to be some way of figuring this all out to where we can cash in on whatever she's up to, and you're sure she won't talk with us about whatever it is?"

"Lord, that she would, that would most certainly make things so much simpler and easier on everyone. Easier though is not something one can count on in these types of things." Cole replied, "But there are ways, and the idea that we are free agents will be as hard to believe as Santa Claus will be here on December Twenty-fifth. No, trying to convince her, or anyone of that would require a miracle.

"So," Nolan paused for a sip of coffee, "What if she disappeared again? I mean she vanished once before, almost without a trace, why couldn't she do that again, but perhaps with a little help, on the QT, of course."

Cole Latham looked at him in disbelief, Postmaster Nolan Ashworth was suggesting that they either kidnap her, or have someone else kidnap her, and then make her talk by whatever means necessary. Brilliant! It was likely the only way that would work. Now, all that had to be done was to locate a couple of men to do the job.

"Nolan, I believe you have struck on the very solution to our problem," Cole said with a smile. "I believe that there are men available who would do that without a qualm, and they needn't kill her either, well maybe that would be best after all. And, we can settle up with whoever we hire once everything is done and the information is in ur hands."

Nolan Ashworth looked across the table at Cole Latham, the latter unaware of the other's past, but then, one did not ask questions of another, especially about his past, but Nolan knew who and what Cole was the moment they met. And for Nolan Ashworth it was the beginning of a prosperous partnership in several afrenas, but nothing big enough to draw attention. though each probably had an idea that would have drawn notice enough to send them to Montana State Prislon.

"It will not be easy, that I can assure you, these things never are. We need to find the right men for the job. Tjey cannot know Case or Elias, that would be suicide. No we'll need men from so. Local mewhere far from here." Ashworth explained, not that Latham didn't understand that.

"So we just can't advertise that in the newspaper, and certainly not this one!" Cole stated, causing Nolan to bnreak lout laughing, drawing attention to them, but then it was just one man had said somethingh funny. The mere conversation about kidnaping, even in low tones one would use in public discourse had him on edge.

"Easy my friend." Nolan said quietly, "I know how to freach someone that might be able to lend a hand, quietly enough."

"Yes, but the cost, I mean men don't do this sort of thing for free."

"No, you're right, they don't, all of that in good time, firsy we need to find the right men for the job. Then we can ove mon to the money part of it. I have a thought or two about that, not to worry. We have the idea, next, we make a plan. Simple as that. Either we believe in our plan or we don't."

Both me took ujp their coffee cups for a swallow.

"Now here's the rub, as fvar as I'm concerned, I've not seen a single one of Case's men all winter, which, on the face of it, is not unusual, but they should have been back at their hideout by now." Cole said, "I know you just said that perhaps you knew of someone who could handle this chore of ours should be decided that this is a good idea, I mean the way I look at this, the law will be looking for her and so will Elias' men, thirty of them. So getting this done might be a bkt sticker than we think."

"My thoughts exactly. and all the more reason to hire men from outside of here. Men that no one knows." Nolan pointed out. The place was still almost empty, but the church had not let out as yet, so both scoundrels could speak almost freely, but in low tones. "It will take at least two or three men to whisk her away. But Cole, we have enough travelers in and out of town that they would hardly draw any attention at all. But they have to be good at what they do." Nolan advised his partner.

"Agreed. The very last thing we need is a slip-up, or we're dead meat! Elias would see to that, whether he still had feelings for her or not. And, getting any of Cases men to do it? It's his mother, for Christ's sake!" Cole reminded him. "So, the question is, at least it's my question, how well do you know this man you're speaking about?"

Noan Ashworth smiled as their breakfast was set before them. "Thank you." He said to the waiter, then, "We rode together during the war, with B;ooddy Bill Anderson, so he's up to the task. I'll take my oath on that."  He paused for a long moment. "Maybe the hardest part might be tracking him down, though last I knew, he was still in Kansas, of all places. He'll know of a couple of good men that can be trusted."

Cole Latham was taken aback at the news that Nolan Ashwoth had been a Confederate raider with Bill Anderson, no less.

"Well, that certainly changes things a good deal. I, I had no idea. Don't suppose I should be shocked. I mean, everyone our age probably served on one side of the other. I was on Beauregard's staff. Simply amazing."

"True, so I think we have a basis for this plan of ours," Cole confirmed. "The steak is excellent."

"Absolutely. This place does know how to fix them. I mean, the Lickskillet gets the same meat from the same ranches, yet the hotel seems to have something the cafe does not in their preparation of the beef. However, in the cafe's defense, its marinated beef is far better than the hotel's. Sort of tit for tat in that arena." Ashworth concluded.

"To return to the subject of, shall we say, our pigeon, to be honest, the re-homing of such a pigeon is fraught with complication from the outset. Most times, re-homing fails due to the death of the pigeon for any number of reasons and causes. This is something that must be taken into consideration from the outset. Ignoring this could be catastrophic!" He pointed to Cole and then to himself.

"It is not a bad idea, but this particular idea needs a great deal of work as to the planning of it, every step of the way!"

Cole Latham sat for a long moment looking out the window, as it became evident by the traffic on the street that the church service had let out, and the place began filling up around them.

"So this is just not that simple of a plan as I had thought then." He said, with a tone of disappointment in his voice. "I thought it would be simple and easy, but I see your point in this matter. In fact, it looks more like a rope would be waiting for us at the end of this horrid mistake."

"I suspect as much, Cole. These things seldom go well, and generally end badly for everyone involved." Ashwoth observed. "We'll need to find another avenue for the information we seek. That actually cannot be all that hard to come by. There are few secrets in this town."

Cole dropped seventy-five cents on the table, a half dollar and a quarter dollar. "Then our business here is finished, and neither lady has emerged from the church, so perhaps they dod not attend this morning."

Both men rose from their seats, "And so it has. We need to view this as perhaps a stepping stone to something else, something less complicated, and far less dangerous." Nolan suggested.