Stronger than he'd been in recent weeks, Elias Steelgrave and half a dozen of his riders were making a trip to Kalispell and a visit to the Stardust Saloon to inform Mister Franklion Fortner what his plans for his whorehouse were going to be and just hjow that might affect the saloons business in the coming months, he would then wire his contact in Kansas City about getting some girls out to Kalispell, prime girls, young, talented, good looking.
His thought was, he was simply letting the competition know that they weren't. The men with him were to let the saloon owner know that violence would be met with violence, that any attack on his business interests would be cause for some real problems. Of course, that was not what he wanted. He was ready and willing to live and let live, and he was always open to some sort of arrangement that might benefit both.
The riders pulled up and stepped down at the hitch rail, the six men released the hammer thongs on their pistols, and once all were on the boardwalk, they surrounded Elias and they walked to the batwing door and pushed through them into the dimness of the interior, the Evergreen riders fanning out as Elias approached the bar.
"Hello, Ralph, the place just doesn't seem the same without that angel, Matilda Devereaux, on hand." Elias greeted. "Have a bourbon, and Mister Forftner, he around?"
Ralph glanced up from drying his glasses behind the bar as a whole passel of gunmen...and ahhh, yes, Elias Steelgrave entered the place. They weren't coming for a drink, that was for certain. He stopped the drying and dropped one hand behind the bar then listened as Elias spoke up.
"Hello, Ralph, the place just doesn't seem the same without that angel, Matilda Devereaux, on hand."
"She didn't like you none, surprised you miss her even, she's been gone almost two years," Ralph commented dryly.
Elias greeted. "Have a bourbon, and Mister Fortner, he around?"
Ralph didn't make a move for the bottles, "It'll cost ya 75 cents." He wasn't even quoting the price for the best stuff. But he wanted to see the money first. He didn't trust Steelgrave as far as he could throw the fat piano player.
Just then Caroline sashayed on in, her smile disappearing for an instant at the site of Steelgrave and his thugs. It would take a lot to intimidate her though even though a few of their regular customers seemed mighty nervous all of a sudden. Evergreeners had that kind of effect.
"Well, well, look who is gracin' us with his presence, Mister Steelgrave. Gosh, do ya think you got enough gunmen to keep you safe from us scary Star Dust folk?" she smirked.
"A shame, Ralph, I've always thought highly of her, hopefully she is doing well, wherever she might be," Elias said as he fished out a silver dollar and laid it on the bar, giving it a little push toward Ralph with his finger. He was about to say something more when Caroline spoke up.
"Well, well, look who is gracin' us with his presence, Mister Steelgrave. Gosh, do ya think you got enough gunmen to keep you safe from us scary Star Dust folk?" she smirked.
Elias half-turned his body and moved his head to look at her. He smiled. "Ah, yes, the incomparable Miss Monday, a pleasure." He said softly, but loud enough to be heard. "Yes, my men, well, you know, a body just can't be too careful these days, and they wouldn't let me travel without an escort. Indians, I understand, are out. Posing a threat, but then aren't there always a number of them out on the war path?"
He held his position, but looked back at Ralph, the drink sitting where Ralph had poured it. "I repeat, is Mister Fortner here, or Hiram Priest? He would do, unless of course, either of you is also an owner of this fine establishment, what I have to say is for one of them so that what I say will be understood exactly as I said it." He explained,
@Wayfarer @Preston
Chubby had convulsively stopped playing in shock as Steelgrave and his heavies had marched in, but not decided that a little music might lighten the tense atmosphere and began to play again. Sally, who had been bent over, picking up a spittoon to empty, stood up and looked goggle eyed at the big elderly man and his gang and at Caroline actually sassing him!
He held his position, but looked back at Ralph, the drink sitting where Ralph had poured it. "I repeat, is Mister Fortner here, or Hiram Priest? He would do, unless of course, either of you is also an owner of this fine establishment, what I have to say is for one of them so that what I say will be understood exactly as I said it." He explained,
"I'll go and get Mr Fortner, Sir!" Sally yelped and ran pell-mell from the bar to look for the boss.
"Thank you, little lady, much appreciated," Elias said to the girl, one he didn't know, or simply didn't remember. Being that his visits to town were far and few between, and he met people, not all of them, he remembered. Of course, with a business interest in Kalispell, his trips might become more frequent.
His plan, and what he had to say, was not intended to start any trouble, though he was quite sure it could. But trouble was not something that he shied away from as some men in his position would, no, he would lead his men in anything that threatened him, or his holdings.
He was half a mind to stop at the hospital and see if his brat daughter was there. Ling had told him that it appeared that Leah and Danforth's relationship had become more serious, but she was not his problem. Making his brothel a money maker was.
@Wayfarer @Preston
He held his position, but looked back at Ralph, the drink sitting where Ralph had poured it. "I repeat, is Mister Fortner here, or Hiram Priest? He would do, unless of course, either of you is also an owner of this fine establishment, what I have to say is for one of them so that what I say will be understood exactly as I said it." He explained,
"I'll go and get Mr Fortner, Sir!" Sally yelped and ran pell-mell from the bar to look for the boss.
************************************
At that moment, Franklin Fortner polished off a small snort of whiskey (the best the Stardust carried), and set the empty glass on the desk.
"So, we got us a bookkeeper and now have provisioners on contract. Good work, Mayor."
Hiram sat back in a leather-bound chair and smiled with his lips closed.
"Golden days are ahead," he replied. "We are going to really put Kalispell on the map, Frank. It might cost us a bit upfront, but the investment will pay off soon."
The rapacious saloon owner nodded his agreement.
There was a timid knock on the door.
"What is it?" Fortner called out.
There was a timid knock on the door.
"What is it?" Fortner called out.
The door creaked open and Sally poked her head as much into the office room as she dared: only Mr Fortner, Mr Priest, Miss Patterson Forde and any specially invited guests were allowed in there.
"Sorry to disturb you, Mr Fortner Sir, but Mister Steelgrave's just walked in with some mean looking men, all armed to the teeth and he's demanding to see you!!" she yelped "You'd better come soon... Miss Mundee's talking to him!"
The latter she added to hurry them up - if Steelgrave wasn't already in his notorious foul temper, with Caroline on the job, he soon would be!
Elias waited, the burbon untouched, "I understand you boys, well, Fortner and Priest have struck it rich on some claim you have. Good for you. I hope that you have been included in this windfall. Be a shame to be on the outside of it." Elias said, a bit on the snarky side. "Gold is quite the mineral, you know, it has a strange effect on the men that find it. Now cattle, much safer, I think, all one needs to worry about is the off chance they are hit by rustlers."
"What do you think of this turn of events, Miss Mundee? Pretty exciting, I'd venture to say. Nothing like a strike to set this town on its ear. No siree, even Guyer's copper mine is doing well, and that will bring others, but not at the speed of a gold or silver strike." He smiled, like the viper he was.
@Wayfarer @Preston
Ralph took the coin and then provided the pompous Steelgrave the bourbon he wanted. And no, he had not answered about Fortner. Meanwhile Caroline was verbally jabbing at Elias.
Elias half-turned his body and moved his head to look at her. He smiled. "Ah, yes, the incomparable Miss Monday, a pleasure." He said softly, but loud enough to be heard. "Yes, my men, well, you know, a body just can't be too careful these days, and they wouldn't let me travel without an escort. Indians, I understand, are out. Posing a threat, but then aren't there always a number of them out on the war path?"
"Ahhh, right! Indians! Why just the other day Sittin' Bull and about half his Sioux warriors were sitting over at that corner table there, playing poker. We were all worried if they were gonna go on the warpath any moment," Caroline waxed sarcastically.
Elias wanted to know about their boss, the place's owner, but Caroline was not in the mood to be helpful. Sally instead ran to go notify the man he had a visitor. Gee, now the two biggest horses asses could sit down together and have a big meeting.
Fortner soon entered.
Elias waited, the burbon untouched, "I understand you boys, well, Fortner and Priest have struck it rich on some claim you have. Good for you. I hope that you have been included in this windfall. Be a shame to be on the outside of it." Elias said, a bit on the snarky side. "Gold is quite the mineral, you know, it has a strange effect on the men that find it. Now cattle, much safer, I think, all one needs to worry about is the off chance they are hit by rustlers."
"What do you think of this turn of events, Miss Mundee? Pretty exciting, I'd venture to say. Nothing like a strike to set this town on its ear. No siree, even Guyer's copper mine is doing well, and that will bring others, but not at the speed of a gold or silver strike."
Caroline just gave him a look, "What I think about such things don't really matter does it? It's you big ol' powerful men who run things."
"Now, if you don't mind, I'm gonna go find something else ta do and leave you gents to yer important business."
She turned to head for the back where the kitchen would be only to pause and smile back at Steelgrave, "Watch out fer those dangerous redskins now."
And with that she left them to their affairs.
"Nice talking with you, Miss," Elias said as \she walked away.
The woman was not aware that the Sioux were still hostile and that bands were still out, raising hell, but then, why would she concern herself with such things? He turned his attention then to Frank Fortner's expected entrance. This was not the Elias Steelgrave that those in the Stardust Saloon had come to expect, though most had rarely ever seen the man, though there was the possibility that would change, with his purchase of the whorehouse. Time would tell.
He took a step, turned, and smiled at Ralph, "The drink is on me, Ralph, enjoy." The man said, then he turned back, awaiting Fortner's entrance. He was aware that what he had to say would not sit well with Fortner, Priest, or Ralph, for that matter. The Stardust had been the only game in town for a long time, but that would be changing to some degree. His establishment wouldn't be a saloon and brothel, but a high-class brothel that offered drinks and a meal, should a man care to dine with one of the girls or his associates. Imported girls, imported liquors, and fine foods. That part was still under development.